A Comparative Structural Study of Rostam and Esfandîâr In Nihāyatu l -irab and Shāh-nāme

This article aims at a comparative study of the structure of “Rostam and Esfandîâr" legend, based on Hansen's theory, as narrated by Ibn Moqaffa’, in Nihāyatu’l -irab and Ferdowsi, in Shāh-nāme. Accordingly first the narratives analogous to those of Ibn Moqaffa’, and Ferdowsi have been compiled while probing into the basic dissimilarities between them, like Rostam 's Zoroastrian faith or otherwise. Next, the structures of these stories have been analyzed at a general and specific level, according to Hansen. In conclusion, Ibn Moqaffa's narrative is found to be a historical one with a continual structure, whereas in the case of Shāh-nāme, being an esthetically poetic narrative, it has been subdivided into a few episodes.