With Special Re A Typological Study of Symbolic Debate ference to Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Nezami’s Khamsa
Subject Areas : Research in Iranian classical literature
saeed karimi qare baba
1
,
Hassan Heidarzadeh
2
1 - Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Payam-e Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Symbolic Debate, Khamsa, Nizami Ganjavi, Shahnameh, literary genre.,
Abstract :
With Special Re A Typological Study
of Symbolic Debate ference to
Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Nezami’s Khamsa
Hasan Heidarzadeh Sardarud**
Debate is a type of literature in which a conversation is established between two parties, each trying to demonstrate their virtues and superiority. At the end of the debate, one party is persuaded and defeated, while the other claims victory. However, debate has its flaws, and symbolic debate is one of them. This article, conducted through a descriptive method and content analysis, aims to answer the question: What is symbolic debate? And how does it differ from conventional debates? And also what is its nature, structure, and function in two significant works of Persian literature, namely Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and Nizami's Khamsa? In this research, it becomes evident that in symbolic debate, the two parties use symbolic objects in addition to words, driven by various motivations. The primary evidence for this type of debate can be found in Shahnameh (Alexander's conversation with the Indian philosopher Kid) and Khamsa Nizami (the story of the Red Dome). In this form of debate, one party designs a series of symbols for the other to decipher, engaging in a back-and-forth exchange that may occur up to four times. Nizami also employs symbolic debate in Iskandarnameh. These debates are present in legends, historical narratives, and contemporary stories, blending elements of epic, symbolic, and enigmatic genres for rhetorical purposes such as visualization, emphasis, intelligence testing, and conversation softening.
Keywords: Symbolic Debate, Khamsa, Nizami Ganjavi, Shahnameh, literary genre.
Introduction
Debate is one of the most ancient and influential literary modes employed to represent intellectual, ethical, and ideological confrontation in Persian literature. Beyond its argumentative function, debate operates as a powerful narrative and rhetorical device that enlivens the text, deepens meaning, and actively engages the reader in the process of judgment and interpretation. From didactic and moral debates to epic, lyrical, and allegorical forms, this mode has played a crucial role in shaping the dialogic structure of classical Persian literature.
However, literary debate in Persian texts does not adhere to a single fixed or homogeneous form. Over time, it has undergone significant transformations and has frequently merged with other literary genres, giving rise to hybrid and less-studied forms. One such form is symbolic debate, a mode of dialogue in which verbal argumentation is replaced or supplemented by symbolic acts, objects, or signs that convey meaning indirectly. In symbolic debate, meaning is not articulated openly but encoded in symbols that require interpretation and intellectual discernment by the opposing party.
Although symbolic debate shows affinities with riddles and enigmas, it surpasses them in both scope and function. Its primary aim is not mere intellectual entertainment but the examination of wisdom, moral worth, political legitimacy, or spiritual insight. By employing symbolic mediation, this form allows authors to soften confrontation and transform conflict into a refined and multilayered exchange. For this reason, major Persian poets such as Ferdowsi and Nezami Ganjavi have consciously employed symbolic debate to enrich epic and narrative discourse.
Despite its notable presence in classical texts, symbolic debate has rarely been examined as an independent literary genre. Previous studies have either mentioned it briefly or subsumed it under broader categories such as riddles, allegory, or question-and-answer structures. As a result, its typological characteristics, narrative mechanisms, and rhetorical functions have remained insufficiently explored. The present study aims to fill this scholarly gap by offering a systematic typological analysis of symbolic debate in Persian literature, with a particular focus on Shahnameh and Khamsa.
Discussion
Nature and Characteristics of Symbolic Debate
Symbolic debate is a dialogic form in which conventional verbal discourse is replaced or augmented by symbolic actions or objects. Ordinary items such as bowls, jewels, garments, or ritual gestures acquire communicative significance and function as vehicles of meaning within the narrative context. Symbols in symbolic debate are not decorative but operative; they structure the exchange and determine its outcome.
A defining feature of symbolic debate is the active role of interpretation. The addressee must decode the symbolic message correctly, and success or failure in interpretation carries narrative, ethical, or political consequences. This interpretive demand distinguishes symbolic debate from riddles, where incorrect answers typically have limited implications. In symbolic debate, understanding becomes a test of intellect, wisdom, and legitimacy.
Symbolic Debate in Shahnameh
While direct verbal debates dominate Shahnameh, Ferdowsi also presents sophisticated examples of symbolic debate. The most prominent instance is the multilayered exchange between Alexander and the Indian philosopher Kid. Here, the philosopher presents symbolic puzzles that test not only Alexander’s intelligence but also his moral insight and spiritual readiness. Alexander’s responses demonstrate his transformation from a conquering hero into a reflective and wise ruler.
Another significant example is the symbolic episode involving Khosrow Parviz, who resolves objections to his marriage with Shirin not through argument but through symbolic staging. Although the exchange is one-sided, it retains the core structure of symbolic debate and highlights Ferdowsi’s mastery in employing symbolic discourse to resolve narrative tension.
Symbolic Debate in Nezami’s Khamsa
Nezami Ganjavi elevates symbolic debate to a level of exceptional sophistication. In the Eskandarnama, the symbolic exchange between Darius and Alexander—conducted through the sending of objects such as a ball and a polo mallet—constitutes a subtle contest of political authority and intellectual supremacy. At times, Nezami allows the same character to act simultaneously as the designer and interpreter of symbols, a technique he justifies through the notion of auspicious insight.
Another notable example is the episode of Alexander and Nushaba, where bowls filled with jewels replace food, delivering a powerful critique of human greed and ambition without direct moralizing. The most intricate example of symbolic debate appears in the tale of the Red Pavilion in Haft Peykar, where a multi-stage symbolic exchange functions as a comprehensive trial of the hero’s wisdom, ethical integrity, and emotional maturity. The sequential use of symbols gradually unveils deeper layers of meaning, intertwining love, intellect, and ascetic restraint.
Findings and Conclusion
The findings of this study demonstrate that symbolic debate constitutes a distinct and identifiable literary genre in Persian literature and can not be adequately explained as a mere subtype of riddles or enigmas. It is a hybrid form that integrates elements of epic narrative, symbolic representation, and enigma-based reasoning, serving multiple rhetorical and narrative functions.
Symbolic debate may occur in either unilateral or bilateral forms, and in some cases, the roles of symbol designer and interpreter converge in a single character. The complexity and semantic richness of symbolic debate increase proportionally with the number of symbolic stages involved. Moreover, this genre exhibits deep roots in Iranian symbolic culture and appears not only in classical epic and romance but also in folklore, historical narratives, and even modern Persian fiction.
Ultimately, the study argues that symbolic debate opens new avenues for genre studies in Persian literature and invites a more nuanced understanding of dialogic practices in classical texts. By favoring symbolic mediation over direct confrontation, this genre reflects a distinctly Iranian mode of intellectual exchange—one grounded in subtlety, interpretation, and wisdom—and offers a multilayered and enduring literary expression.
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* Corresponding Author: Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Payam-e Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
0000-0002-6559-0262
** Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
hasanheidarzadeh@pnu.ac.ir
0000-0001-9977-7968
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