Delay and Gap in Mathvavi

The subject of the present article is to examine how the text tempts the reader to continue reading. These techniques are delay and gap in which a text encourages the reader to continue reading where the plot slows down the reader‘s comprehension in order to create suspense, interest, excitement, anxiety and curiosity in him. By a broad analysis of these devices in Mathnavi, the capabilities of Molawi as a skillful storyteller are represented. It can be concluded that these elements are used conveniently to serve the mystical and didactic purposes of the narrator. For instance, the narrator uses one kind of delay named blockage to provide an opportunity for his interpretive speeches in the middle of narration and through this he promises to the audience that the rest of story will come soon after this delay; in this wayhe obligates the reader to listen to these speeches.