Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 10، Junuary 2026 ، issue Number 116

Intertextual Reading of the Story of Fereydoun and Zahhak in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and Moses and Pharaoh in the Spiritual Masnavi Based on Genette's theory of transtextuality

Fatemeh Modarresi (Author in Charge), Sasan Ahmadi Kakavandi , Vahid Eghbali

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the topics of contemporary literary criticism is the issue of intertextuality, which often refers to the idea of transferring meaning or words, or both, from one literary work to another with a difference in purpose and goal.The view that exists in intertextuality is that some writings, whether in the form of poetry or prose, are in the shadow of another text and are derived from the thoughts and opinions of other poets and writers before them This issue is often seen in Persian literature.

METHODOLOGY: In this article, we aim to examine the issue of intertextuality in two great works of Persian poetry analytically and descriptively.

FINDINGS: Ferdowsi"s Shahnameh and Masnavi Manavi are considered to be among the most important literary works of Iran in the fourth and seventh centuries Who are famous and known throughout the world for their pure thoughts. Despite the differences seen in the epic nature of Ferdowsi"s poetry and the didactic-mystical nature of Rumi"s poetry, there are similarities seen intertextually in the parallelism of some of the fictional characters in these two works. This is particularly worth pondering and explaining in the stories of Fereydoun and Zahhak from the Shahnameh and Moses and Pharaoh from the Masnavi.

CONCLUSION: The results of the research show that Rumi and Ferdowsi believe that the unique truth of the prophets and saints can be repeated in every era And the true nature of Pharaoh and Dahhak is the same polytheism, arrogance, and ignorance that manifests itself in every type of human being at every time. The fact that many people were killed to find Musa and Fereydoun, the presence of the sleepwalkers and the sleepwalkers in both stories and the threat of their murder, the similarity of the staffs used by the two when problems arise, and so on are other similarities between the two stories.

Keyword
Shahnameh , Masnavi , Fereydoun and Zahak , Musa and Pharaoh , intertextuality.