Application of allegorical and symbolic concepts of dogs in epic, lyrical and mystical works Based on Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Khamseh Nezami and Rumi's Masnavi (Mouvlavi)

A symbol is an expressive trick that, instead of referring directly to a subject, expresses it indirectly through another subject or in an allegorical way. The symbol has always been a role model in the realm of literature. Symbols are part of the culture of a nation, and in order to understand the myths of that nation, one must understand their meanings. Animals are examples that are associated with symbols.This research has been written by library method and analytical-comparative method and its aim is to study the symbolic and allegorical concepts of dog in epic, lyrical and mystical works (based on Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Nezami’s Khamseh (The Quintuplet) and Rumi's Masnavi) and wants to answer these questions: What is the attitude towards dogs in Avesta and Pahlavi texts? In what symbolic and allegorical terms is dog used in each of the studied works? Is there a correspondence between the symbolic and allegorical concept of dog in the studied works? Which concept has an epic theme, which one has a lyrical theme and which one has a mystical theme?