Anvari's Poetry: A Dual Poetics

Poetics is based on principles، elements، and artistic approaches that poets use. Its elements vary according to different historical and literary periods and to social circumstances، and poets’ personalities and their different patterns of thought and art. Given the courtly nature of Anvari’s time and his materialistic mindset، the poet tends to show only his encomiastic and epigrammatic sides. Accordingly، he founds his early poetical principles on two axes: “poetic beggary” and an exclusive regard for genre of “eulogy” especially of the immoral and irrational adulation type. But with the turmoil made by invasion of Oghuz Turks that led to abolition of patronage of Seljuki rulers، the first changes appeared in Anvari''s character and poetics، namely، his regret for his former poetics along with condemnation of eulogy and eulogistic writing. Unveiling his newfound character as preacher and critic in this period، Anvari constructs his new poetics upon avoiding poetic beggary، insistence on reason (as opposed to greed)، emphasizing the age of efficacy in poets، the necessity of playing and creating roles by poets in society، and abstaining from intellectual servility.