Contemplation on defamiliarization function of mythological aspect of dragon in the novel "Glasses for the Dragon"

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

yazd university

10.22099/jcls.2023.46476.1969

Abstract

Abstract:
Modern fantasies are the continuation of myths and folk tales being directly or indirectly influenced and inspired by the characters and elements used in these genres. Characters from another world, which seem to us impossible, stepping into the real world of the people and their behaviours, like mythological characters, seem implausible and far from our access. The characteristics and actions of fantastic characters reflect our own dreams and desires, exactly like as the ancient myths and epics which have reflected our ancestors` concerns and wishes and answered their questions.
In the novel Eyeglasses for the Dragon, by mohammadhadi mohammadi the author attempts to draw the attention of the new generation to the significance of legends, epics, folk tales, etc. In this article, an attempt has been made to compare the similarities and differences between the dragon in this novel and mythological-epic dragons (particularly the ones in the Shahnameh) and consequently answer this important question: if the purpose of the fantasy is drawing the attention of the young generation to fairy tales and the element of the dragon is supposed to appear in the fairy tale, why has the dragon not been mentioned even once in the whole novel despite the presence of the two story tellers in the novel, i.e. Bibi Torang and Naneh Ejdeha?

Keywords

References

 
Holy Quran
Anjavi Shirazi, A. (1990). People and Ferdowsi. Elmi. [in Persian]
Asadi Tousi, A. (1976). Garshasbnameh (H. Yaghmaei, Ed.). Tahouri. [in Persian]
Attar, F. M. (1994). Manteq-ol-teir (S. Goharin, Ed.). Elmi va Farhangi. [in Persian]
Bakhtourtash, N. (2005). The history of Iranian flag from antiquity to today. Behjat. [in Persian]
Barati, P. (2019). Divnameh: An introduction to the imaginative characters in Iranian narratives. Cheshmeh. [in Persian]
Beyhaqi, A. (2009). Beyhaqi history (1st Volume) (M. J. Yahaqqi & M. Seyyedi, Eds.). Sokhan. [in Persian]
Brown, C. L. (2014). New fantasy (P. Nayyeri, Trans.). Research Journal of Children’s and Adloscents’ Literature, no. 13. [in Persian]
Ferdowsi, A. (2014). Shahnameh (J. K. Motlagh, Ed.). Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia. [in Persian]
Haji-Molla-Hosseini, S. (2010). New fantasies. Book of the Month of Children and Adolescents, 158, 51-57. [in Persian]
Hunt, P. (2009). Fantasy and alternative worlds (S. Moqanloo, Trans.). Book of the Month of Children and Adolescents, 147, 62-71. [in Persian]
Jafarpour, M. & Mohammadian, A. (2013). The structure of themes in Hossein Kord Shabestari, Shirooyeh Namdar and Malek Jamshid. Journal of Prose Studies in Persian Literature, 33, 47-85. [in Persian]
Kashani, M. T. (2018). Education: On principles of children’s education (E. Motamedi, Ed.). Madreseh. [in Persian]
Lean, R. N. (2000). Fantasy, escaping reality or elevating reality (H. Ebrahimi, Trans.). Research Journal for Children’s and Adolescents’ Literature, 23, 7-31. [in Persian]
Mirsadeqi, J. & Mirsadeqi, M. (1998). Dictionary of the art of fiction-writing. Ketabe Mahnaz. [in Persian]
Mohammad bin Monavvar (1953). Asrar-ol-touhid fi maqamat-e Abi Saeed (Z. Safa, Ed.). Elmi. [in Persian]
Mohammadi, M. (1999). Fantasy in children’s literature. Roozegar. [in Persian]
Mohammadi, M. H. (2020). Glasses for the Dragon. Institute for Research on the History of Children’s Literature. [in Persian]
Mohammadi, M. H. & Qaeeni, Z. (2015). History of Iranian children’s literature: Children’s literature in the new age (6th and 9th Volumes). Chista. [in Persian]
Nezami, E. (1965). Kolliat-e khamseh. Amir Kabir. [in Persian]
Norton, D. (2003). Understanding children’s literature: Genres and functions from the eyes of the child (2nd Volume) (M. Raei, Trans.). Qalamrow. [in Persian]
Pooyan, M. & Sarfi, H. (2022). Fantasy-satire in Today’s Tales by Zarooei Nasr-abad. Proceedings of National Conference for the Memorial of Abolfazl Zarooei Nasrabad (pp. 279-298). Artakava. [in Persian]
Qezel-ayagh, S. (2018). Children’s and adolescents’ literature and the promotion of reading: Library material and services for children and adolescents. SAMT. [in Persian]
Rastegar Fasaei, M. (2000). Dragon in Iranian Mythology. Tous. [in Persian]
Sa’di, M. (1993). Golistan (K. Rahbar, Ed.). Safi Alishah. [in Persian]
Sadrinia, B. & Monfaredan, E. (2016). Typology of fantasy in two stories by Samad Behrangi, Ouldouz and the talking doll and Ouldouz and crows. Journal of Children’s Literature Studies, 7 (2), 147-165. [in Persian]
Tolkien, J. R. R. (2019). Tree and leaf: Three imaginative stories (M. Farhadpour, Trans.). Rowzaneh. [in Persian]
Tousi, M. (1966). Ajayeb-ol-makhlooqat (M. Sotoudeh, Ed.). Foundation for the Translation and Publication of Books. [in Persian]
Yahaqqi, M. J. (1996). Dictionary of myths and fictional allusions in Persian literature. Research Center for Human Sciences and Cultural Studies-Soroush. [in Persian]

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 01 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 25 May 2023
  • Accept Date: 28 May 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics