The study of narrative discourse in Shahnameh Ferdowsi

Shahnameh enjoys significant scientific capacities in the domain of narratology and the grammar of narration. This article is concerned with the study of a genre of narration namely narrative discourse in Shahnameh in which the narrator upon narrating, all of a sudden exits from the world of the story and addresses the reader in order to have a dialogue with him. Adopting this narrative genre usually at the end of every story is based on rhetorical and exact discourse purposes and is quite influential in inducing the sense of believability of the story and it accentuates the presence of the reader. In such depicted atmosphere one can observe the communicative and emotional function of narrative discourse especially with the time change from the past to present. Also, the narratological approach of this point of view, brings about transmission of emotions, ideology, and mental states which in turn evokes direct emotional involvement with the reader. Author’s mental states and his ideological perspectives has direct logical connection with the outcome of actions and events. In a way the author criticizes and judges the actions and behavior of the characters, reveals his own beliefs so that the reader unconsciously perceives the same notion understood by the author and hence accepts his judgment. The purpose of this article is not only to put emphasis on the significance of this genre of narration but also to fully explain the objectives of the narrator in direct dialogue with the audience. This has been done on the basis of narrative criticism and structuralist narratologists’ views such as Lintvel’s.