“Scientific and Specialized Journal of Modern Literary Research”

“Scientific and Specialized Journal of Modern Literary Research”

The Influence of Oral Literature (Folklore) on Contemporary Persian and Iraqi Poetry ((A Case Study of the Poems of Ahmad Shamlou and Mu’in Bseiso

Document Type : Original Article

Author
PhD in Comparative Literature, Faculty of Media, Al-Warith Al-Anbiyaa University, Karbala
Abstract
This study aims to examine and comparatively analyze the influence of folklore on the contemporary poetry of Ahmad Shamlou and Mu’in Bseiso. The research investigates how these two poets employed oral literature to articulate political, social, and philosophical themes. The methodology is descriptive-analytical, based on content analysis of the poets’ works. Due to the textual nature of the research, no statistical population was required in the conventional sense.The findings reveal that folklore, as a rich cultural source, played a vital role in the poetry of both Shamlou and Bseiso. Each poet used folklore as a symbolic and metaphorical medium, creatively reimagining local tales and myths to enrich their works. However, significant differences are evident in their approaches. While Shamlou focuses more on ancient myths and philosophical or humanistic themes, Bseiso employs Palestinian and Arab folklore to directly convey themes of resistance and nationalism.The central conclusion is that folklore, as an essential expressive tool, has enabled contemporary poetry to transcend direct language and become a medium for expressing identity, protest, and hope.
Keywords
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