Content and Aesthetic Functions of Flowers and Plants in the Poetry of Hossein Manzavi

Abstract

The interest in flowers and plants and the use of natural elements in poetry do not belong to a particular period. Most poets have tried to use natural phenomena and new combinations to address their favorite concepts and ideas. However, the tendency in classical poetry to nature, flowers and plants is somewhat different from that of contemporary poetry. In contemporary poetry, nature, flowers, and plants are represented through several characteristics such as breaking tradition, new language, and special worldview. Hossein Manzavi (1325-1383 AH) is one of the romantic and influential poets of the contemporary period who has an objective and clever approach to man, society and nature around him. And as we move away from the early period of his poetry, his pleasure from nature and natural elements becomes deeper and more structured. Furthermore, the poet's early emotional and romantic poetry rises to social and political one leading to invention of new words, images, and combinations. The purpose of this descriptive-analytical study is to investigate the functions of flowers and plants in Hossein Manzavi’s poetry. The result of the research suggests that the poet, with creative attitude and expression, has used significant frequency of flowers and plants to express poetic ideas, poetic beauty, harmony, and to create balance among the components of speech use. This has enhanced his poetry thematically and linguistically.