A Study of Divan's Stories in Shahnameh (Based on morphological theory of Vladimir Propp)

Nowadays there are many criticisms based on structural functions. Structuralists are always in search of specific narrative patterns to analyze stories and tales by using those patterns. Among available works, Propp’s work is so important. By analyzing Russian fairy tales he proposed a diagram of thirty one own-workings and he believed that this pattern can be applied to other fairy tales and even to novels. Later on Propp’s method was used by other researchers and sometimes it was criticized. Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is such a work in which many stories and quasi-stories are seen. Among them are stories in which Divans play major roles. This article tries to apply Propp’s method for analyzing Divan’s stories and find the relevance of this method for analyzing such stories. Such analysis leads us to this conclusion that such stories can be analyzed on the basis of Propp’s functions and such functions are seen in these stories. With regard to topic and content, the movements present in these stories are of the first kind of Propp’s movements, that is, expansion through own-working H-I (war and struggle). Own-working of “talisman” and “magic” is present in most stories. In some Divan’s stories certain functions are repeated and this matter not only foregrounds the abilities of the hero but also creates a sense of suspension in the story.