Modern Reflections of Classical Traditions in Persian Fiction: (54 Studies in Comparative Literature S.)

Dr. Khorrami approaches his subject with the rigar of a medieval grammarian of the Arabic language, and sets down a foundation for the literary criticism of Persian literature without differentiating between Western and Eastern literature in its appraisal. The same norms are indifferently applied to both. From childhood he was steeped in the glories of Persian literature and, later studied literary criticism - a privilege denied to most orientalists.

Table of Contents:
Preface i; Acknowledgements vii; I) Instead Of An Introduction 1; II) In Search Of Fundamental Components 5; Modern Persian Fiction and the Myth of Imitating the West 5; Content-Oriented Fiction and Double Standard in the Evaluatoin of the Literatures of Iran and the West 9; Transition to an Independent Discipline of Criticism: Study of an Experience 14; Some Fundamental Concepts of Fiction 17; What Does Reality do? Literary Reality 23; Literary Tradition and the Attenuation of Conceptual Generalizations 28; III) In Harmony With God, At Peace With Satan: A Reading Of Tuba Va Ma'na-ye Shab 39; The Dualistic aspect in the Structure of Tuba va Ma'na-ye Shab 43; Structural Conflict in Tuba va Ma'na-ye Shab 53; Structural Harmony with God 58; IV) Beyond The God-Satan Dualism: The Re-emergence Of Competing Narratives 61; Characterization and "Dadresi" 68; Narrative Multiplicity and Technical Results 75; V) Satan, Forerunner Of Revolution Or Prince Of Exile: The Reflection Of Identity Transformation In Ayenehha-ye Dardar 85; A Bar at the Folies-Bergere: Multiple Realities, Multiple Narratives 87; Identity in the Framework of the God-Satan Dualism: Deconceptualization, Deconstruction 93; The Psychology of Exile 98; Different Stages of Psychological Evolution in Exile 100; VI) Toward A Literary Laboratory: Architechtural Fluidity In Mandanipur's Short Stories 107; Ambiguity and Binary Systems 107; Textual Reality, Contextual Reality 110; A Literary Laboratory 113; Time is Fluid 118; Space is Fluid, so is Identity 120; VII) In Place Of A Conclusion 127; Notes 133; Selected Bibligraphy 153; Index 161