An intertextual study of the adolescent novel "Mahan Nightmare" by Majid Shafiei

Intertextuality is one of the techniques that can help to create new novels based on ancient texts. Intertextual studies are among the important approaches in contemporary literary research, according to which every literary text is a retelling and reproduction of previous or contemporary literary works. Majid Shafiei, one of the leading writers in the field of children and adolescents in the country and winner of several literary awards, is among those who have turned to this literary format. The novel "Mahan’s nightmare", written by Majid Shafiei, seeks to apply new method in narration and avoid traditional methods based on the intertextuality.

The present research is a theoretical study with the library method whose extent and study population include Nezami’s Haft Peykar and Mahan’s nightmare.

The findings of this study show that the theme of anti-oppression and avarice in the two stories and the symbolic use of light versus darkness are common concepts, and applying color and light with its high frequency, has strengthened the intertextual aspects in Mahan’s nightmare.

It is being conclude that Shafiei has used explicit-intentional and implicit intertextuality based on Haft Peykar in Mahan’s nightmare, and has also applied storytelling techniques and common concepts.