The Study of the Fictional Elements in Jaami's Poem of Salaman and Absaal

The narrative of Salaman and Absaal has a Greek root; it was translated into Arabic in the era of the translation of Greek books into Arabic. Jaami, using instructive and attractive parables and allegories versified this story in the 9th century. Although this long poem is regarded to be a philosophical mystic story, the study of its elements and components reveals Jaami’s artistic talent and his ability to write stories. A work cannot be appreciated well unless its structure and formative elements are taken into account. Analysing the formative elements and components of a story leads to a better understanding and reveals its strengths and weaknesses. The present article triesto briefly cover the development of the story of Salaman and Absaal up to the 9th century and to its formative elements such as plot, characters, narrator, viewpoint, and setting.