Analysis of the Functions of Rhetorical Devices (Metaphor and Hyperbole) in the Poem Vis and Rāmin

Abstract

The poem Vis and Rāmin, composed by Fakhr al-Din Asʿad Gorgāni, is one of the oldest and most distinguished romantic epics in Persian literature, which from the eleventh century CE to the present has continuously preserved its status as an enduring masterpiece. This work is not only remarkable in terms of narrative content and thematic structure, but, due to its artistic use of rhetorical devices, also constitutes a valuable corpus for the examination of linguistic and literary aesthetics. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the functions of rhetorical devices (metaphor and hyperbole) in Vis and Rāmin. The findings of this research, carried out using a descriptive–analytical approach and based on library-based data collection, indicate that rhetorical devices in Vis and Rāmin, as aesthetic elements, have not only transformed the text into a pleasing and enduring literary work, but have also added profound semantic layers to the narrative. These devices collectively construct a multidimensional portrayal of love, humanity, and destiny that compels every reader toward reflection and contemplation. The examination of metaphor in Vis and Rāmin, as one of the most prominent rhetorical devices, demonstrates the central role of this figure of speech in the creation of poetic imagery and in the deepening of emotional and philosophical concepts, such that, as a powerful expressive tool, it not only contributes to the formation of vivid and poetic images, but also, by linking natural, human, and divine elements, artistically articulates complex notions such as love, power, transience, and immortality; likewise, hyperbole plays a pivotal role in intensifying poetic expression, generating innovative imagery, and conveying profound emotions. This rhetorical device, through the exaggeration of attributes and events, enables the poet to transmit epic, emotional, and tragic concepts to the audience in an influential and astonishing manner.