PERSIAN LITERATURE

• What does Persian literature comprise?

  Oral compositions and written texts
• How long has Persian literature been around?

  Over two and a half millennia
• Where are the sources of Persian literature located?

  Within Greater Iran and surrounding regions
• Which regions are included in Greater Iran?

  Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Caucasus, Turkey
• What is the significance of the Persian language in these regions?

  It has been native or official historically
• Who is Rumi?

  A beloved Persian poet
• Where was Rumi born?

  Balkh, in modern-day Afghanistan
• Where did Rumi live later in life?

  Konya, in modern-day Turkey
• What was Konya at the time Rumi lived there?

  The capital of the Seljuks in Anatolia
• What is the relationship between Persian literature and ethnic identity?

  Not all Persian literature is by ethnic Persians
• What other languages might include works considered Persian literature?

  Greek and Arabic
• Who else, besides ethnic Persians, has used the Persian language in literature?

  Turkic, Caucasian, and Indic poets
• What does the term 'Persianate culture' refer to?

  The cultural environment where Persian is used
• What is the inclination of a person towards everyday expressions?

  To verify them
• In what types of literature can one encounter poetry?

  Classical works, Persian literature, science, metaphysics
• What is a prerequisite for any scholar according to the text?

  The ability to write in verse form
• What fraction of Avicenna's medical writings are in verse?

  Almost half
• What characterizes the works of the early era of Persian poetry?

  Strong court patronage and panegyrics
• What is known as "exalted in style" in Persian poetry?

  A characteristic of early Persian poetry
• When did the tradition of royal patronage in Persian poetry begin?

  Perhaps under the Sassanid era
• Through which courts did the tradition of royal patronage carry over?

  Abbasid and Samanid courts
• What is the most famous form of panegyric in Persian poetry?

  The Qasida
• Which poet's work is mentioned as widely popular alongside the Qasida?

  Omar Khayyam
• What is the name of the collection of quatrains by Omar Khayyam?

  Ruba'iyyat
• The Rubiiyit of Omar Khayyim is a lyrical poem in quatrains.
• What type of poem is the Rubaiyat?

  Lyric poem
• What subjects does a lyric poem typically express?

  Feelings about life, death, love, and religion
• When was the Rubaiyat published?

  March 1859
• Who praised the Rubaiyat in 1860?

  Dante Gabriel Rossetti
• What themes does the Rubaiyat depict?

  Doubt, fear, and regret
• Who is most famously associated with the Rubaiyat?

  Omar Khayyam
• What is the structure of the Rubaiyat's verses?

  • Quatrains (four-line verses)
  • AABA rhyme scheme
• What are the main themes explored in the Rubaiyat?

  • Fleeting nature of life
  • Inevitability of death
  • Search for meaning in existence
  • Joy, love, and pleasures of life
  • Skepticism about religious orthodoxy
• How do the verses of the Rubaiyat combine philosophical reflection?

  With vivid imagery and profound insights
• What does the symbolism in the Rubaiyat often reference?

  Wine, gardens, stars, and time
• What tone does the Rubaiyat convey through its language?

  • Poetic and reflective
  • Emotional and contemplative
• Who is responsible for the Rubaiyat's fame in the English-speaking world?

  Edward FitzGerald
• What did Edward FitzGerald's translation introduce to the Rubaiyat?

  Poetic liberties
• Why is the Rubaiyat considered a timeless masterpiece?

  • Rich themes and emotions
  • Unique structure and style
  • Philosophical depth and beauty