The Status of Persian Literature in World Literature
Fall 1392
Z. Jannessari Ladani
I. Course Description: This course will focus on the place Persian literature occupies in the world of literature, particularly among English speaking nations. The aim is to make students familiar with the history of the translation of Persian literary texts into English. Further, the course seeks to introduce, examine, and compare translated Persian texts such as masterpieces written by Hafiz, Sa’di, Mowlavi, Khayyam, etc. At the same time, students will come to know and assess the works of orientalists and translators who undertook to translate the above texts such as A. J. Arberry, Edward Rehatsek, R. A. Nicholson, Edward Fitzgerald, etc. Thus, class sessions will be stipulated to two types of activity: lectures on historical aspects and developments of the translations made of Persian texts; and class activities concerning the analysis and assessment of the translations. Part of the discussion in each session is organized and carried out by the instructor, but the other part will be the responsibility of the students. This will be assigned beforehand so that each student will know what s/he should present to the class throughout the semester. Students are expected to follow the instructor’s lectures and take exact notes in class. Students should also have an active participation in class discussions only when the instructor asks them to do so. The interruption of the instructor’s or classmates’ lectures is impolite and only takes the time of the class. By the end of the semester, students should be able to assess and discuss translated Persian texts elaborated in class.
II. Bibliography: The Status of Persian Literature in World Literature for the Fall Semester 1392 is built around the following materials: students must prepare a copy of numbers (1) to (10).
1) Arberry, A. J. “Introduction.” Fifty Poems of Hafiz. Tehran: Janzadeh, 1365. 14-34.
2) Arberry, A. J. Fifty Poems of Hafiz. Tehran: Janzadeh, 1365.
3) Rehatsek, Edward. The Gulistan or Rose Garden of Sa’di. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1964.
4) Archer, W. G. “Preface.” The Gulistan or Rose Garden of Sa’di. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1964. 11-34.
5) Fitzgerald, Edward. “Omar Khayyam: The Astronomer-Poet of Persia.” Ruba’iyat Khayyam. Compiled by Kamran Kuhestany. Tehran: Iraniansociety, 2006.
6) Fitzgerald, Edward. from The Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam. In Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 2. 7th edition. 1305-18. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
7) Nicholson, R. A. Mathnawi of Rumi. London: Messers Luzac & Co., 2009.
8) گلستان سعدي
9) قادري، بهزاد. «ترجمه شعر و مسأله حفظ امانت: بحثي پيرامون استعاره و قالب شعر.» شش گفتار پيرامون ترجمه متون ادبي. كرمان: دانشگاه شهيد باهنر، 1382. 49-72.
10) قادري، بهزاد. «مترجم متون ادبي چه صيغهاي است؟.» شش گفتار پيرامون ترجمه متون ادبي. كرمان: دانشگاه شهيد باهنر، 1382. 73-93.
III. Assignments & Grades: Students should study the texts that are assigned to them by the instructor for the following session. Each text or extract should be read before students come to class. Part of the discussion will be carried out by the instructor, but the main task falls on the shoulder of the students. Each student is responsible to choose a figure of Persian Literature or a translator mentioned above for a lecture. Therefore, we will arrange a time schedule for students’ lectures through the semester. Lectures should be based on the above bibliography. Lectures will have twenty points (20) with respect to students’ representation, information, power of articulation, innovation, and PowerPoint slides. In addition, each student is expected to submit a paper by the end of the semester. Papers can cover a range of topics including: 1. further research on the above figures (both translators and the translations done); or 2. an analysis of a translated Persian prose text or poem. Papers will have twenty points (20). There will also be a final exam of twenty five (25) points with essay-type questions related to the material discussed and lectured during the semester. Students are not allowed to be absent from the class. They will receive one point (+1) for each presence and a minus (-1) for each absence. More than three (3) sessions of absence will be reported to the Education Office and the absentee will be deprived of the final exam. All these scores will amount to the final grade of 80: lectures (+20) + presence in all sessions (+15) + final exam (+25) + papers (+20) =80. The final score is one fourth of this total grade (80/4=20).
IV. Week-by-Week Reading Schedule: Please note that this schedule tells students what they need already to have read when they sit down in class in each session. Note also that, once in possession of the Schedule, no one should be in doubt about the assignments.
Week One – Tuesday 26 Shahrivar 1392:
Introduction
Week Two – Tuesday 2 Mehr 1392:
«ترجمه شعر و مسأله حفظ امانت: بحثي پيرامون استعاره و قالب شعر»
Week Three – Tuesday 9 Mehr 1392:
Arberry’s Introduction to the translation of Hafiz
Week Four – Tuesday 16 Mehr 1392:
Arberry’s Introduction to the translation of Hafiz [continued]
Week Five – Tuesday 23 Mehr 1392:
Analysis & assessment: Ghazals 26 & 30
Week Six – Tuesday 30 Mehr 1392:
Analysis & assessment: Ghazals 7 & 43
Week Seven – Tuesday 7 Aban 1392:
«مترجم متون ادبي چه صيغهاي است؟»
Week Eight – Tuesday 14 Aban 1392:
Fitzgerald’s “Omar Khayyam: The Astronomer-Poet of Persia.”
Week Nine – Tuesday 21 Aban 1392:
Analysis & assessment: Ruba’is 8, 12, 19, 85, etc.
Week Ten – Tuesday 28 Aban 1392:
Archer’s “Preface” to The Gulistan or Rose Garden of Sa’di
Week Eleven – Tuesday 5 Azar 1392:
Analysis & assessment: Chapter IV, story 5 & Chapter V, story 4
Week Twelve – Tuesday 12 Azar 1392:
Analysis & assessment: Chapter VII, story 3 & Chapter VIII, admonitions 5, 10
Week Thirteen – Tuesday 19 Azar 1392:
«مقدمه رومي:تحقيق در احوال و آثار مولانا جلالالدين محمد بلخي مشهور به مولوي رومي» اثر رينولد نيكولسون
Week Fourteen – Tuesday 26 Azar 1392:
Analysis & assessment: «اتحاد جانها»
Week Fifteen – Tuesday 3 Dey 1392:
Analysis & assessment: «معراج جان آدمي»
Week Sixteen – Tuesday 10 Dey 1392:
Off