Nima Yushij's Phoenix: From Romanticism to the First Modern Persian Poetry

Abstract

The beginning of twentieth century is marked by the Constitutional Revolution in Iran. Alongside the revolution, sweeping changes were brought about in every aspects of Iranian society. Undeniably, these extensive changes affected the literature of time. With respect to Persian poetry, Nima Yushij stamped a new pattern on Persian poetry and released it from its long-standing tradition. The plausible reason explaining Yushij's innovation has remained an enigma for literary scholars. Nonetheless, Yushij's attachment to Romanticism can be analyzed to clarify the ambiguous realm behind Yushij's big step for the modernization of Persian poetry. As such, Morse Peckham's theory of Romanticism which is subdivided into four consecutive stages is recruited to encapsulate Yushij's progress in Romanticism. Studying Yushij with respect to these stages proves that Yushij's Phoenix previously dismissed as a romantic poem is indeed Yushij's culmination of Romanticism. Eventually, this is concluded that Yushij reaching the pinnacle of Romanticism in Phoenix has been a decisive factor in creating a new path for Persian poetry.