The Structure of Rostam and Esfandiar Story

Rostam and Esfandiar’s story recounts part of the events that took place after Keykhosrow. As a result, the interpretation of this story focusing on the last days of Keykhosrow’s reign is of vital importance. In the present essay, I have firstly reviewed the analyses and interpretations of scholars on the main theme and then I have tried to trace the main coursee of the story line of the narrative being the challenge ofGoshtasp family with traditions and on the contrary, Zal’s family being the defenders of the traditions. This clash is in such a way that makes symbiosis impossible. Rostam’s defeating Esfendiar is a sign of the of the tale- maker’s interest in preservation of the tradition. The gloomy end of Rostam’s destiny is due to his clash with tradition which ends in the weakening and defeat of tradition and country which is in itself, ominous.I have surveyed traditions such as keeping the distance between kingdom and heroism, the relation between religion and government, the noble of origin and the way these are in contrast with the Goshtasp dynasty in Shanameh. Some issues such as the primary failure of Rostam, the reason for growing Choob-e Gaz in Ab-e Raz and also the existence of two heroes, one old and the other young have been discussed.