The Transformation of Symbols in Contemporary Poetry
Subject Areas : Research in Iranian classical literature
حسن شاهیپور
1
()
Mohammad
2
()
Keywords: literary criticism contemporary poetry transformation changes of symbol semantics,
Abstract :
The symbols have the potential to change through time and history and revolve in concept and meaning. Symbolic tendency in the domain of contemporary literature is a result of the tyrannical situation and the dictator governments, added to the cautiousness and fear of media censorship, and stylistic transformations. All this can be furthermore combined with the delicate attempts taken for artistic enrichment; known as ‘ambiguity’, while it also intends to make the reader participate in the reading process and literary creativity in order to gain further enjoyment. Poets who are capable of independent thinking and are innovatively creative, protect the symbols; and save them from daily obscenity and even gradual death and decadence. Nima and the followers of his literary theory emphasized two words; that is “balance” and “naturalness” in using the symbols. They made an effort to utilize the repetitive, old and obsolete symbols within new concepts in order to enrich poems; in addition to enriching their own stylistic theory. Some of the symbols enjoy a particular entity and internal value, due to their history or flexibility in conveying multiple meanings and also being more influential in different artistic levels; therefore we can regard them as super-symbols. For gaining a proper semantic concept of a literary work demands an appropriate interpretation and understanding of such super-symbols. “Water”, “ wind”, “ night”, “ wall”, “ mirror” etc are some of such symbols; frequently used in contemporary poetry. The transformation of these super-symbols is the main question of the present article.
