A Comparative Study of Epic Manifestations in Contemporary Persian and Arabic Literature

Abstract

This article presents a comparative examination of the transformations of the epic in contemporary Persian and Arabic literature. Employing an interdisciplinary approach and drawing on discourse, semiotic, and structural analyses, it demonstrates that the contemporary epic has moved away from its classical form and has become a multilayered phenomenon redefined at the intersection of history, politics, identity, and language. Contemporary poets, by transferring the epic from national legends to the sphere of individual and collective existential challenges, have transformed the hero from mythical figures such as Rostam and Antarah into the unknown martyr, the grieving mother, the displaced child, or the exiled poet. The findings indicate a shift from hero-centeredness to human-centeredness, the central role of language as a battlefield, the redefinition of myth in the service of resistance, and the diversity of the sociopolitical functions of the epic. Although the two literary traditions share common features in the use of myth and the emphasis on resistance, profound differences can be observed in their engagement with tradition, representation of the hero, and linguistic stylistics, rooted in the distinct historical and political experiences of the two regions. This study emphasizes the inadequacy of classical theories of the epic and the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches, presenting the contemporary epic as a means of reproducing identity, resisting domination, and engaging in critical dialogue with tradition.