Semantic Functions of the Red and Green Color Spectra in the Poetry of Hossein Monzavi

Abstract

Color is the most prominent element in the realm of sensory perception and has attracted human attention since ancient times, captivating the human psyche through its profound power of influence. Poetry is an art of word selection, and undoubtedly, the choice of colors in poetry can reflect a poet’s perspective on the world and its phenomena. Examining the frequency of color-related words can also provide insight into the poet’s temperamental and behavioral characteristics. The present study aimed to examine the semantic functions of the red and green color spectra in the poetry of Hossein Monzavi. The study employed a descriptive-analytical research method, and data were collected using the note-taking method. The findings indicated that the red color spectrum occurs more frequently than the green spectrum in Monzavi’s poetry. In his lyrical love poems, red is employed to describe the beloved as well as Monzavi’s longing, passion, and ardor for union with the beloved. Conversely, in his religious and resistance poetry, red functions as a symbol of blood, war, and struggle. Green symbolizes nature, purity, tranquility, and growth and is used in Monzavi’s poetry to represent the purity of the beloved, peace, the sanctity of the Imams, martyrs, and mystics, as well as the vitality and growth inherent in nature.