Reading Room
New study explores poetry, poetics of Iran’s Constitutional era
Recently, Morvarid Publishing released Poetry and Poetics in the Constitutional Era, a research-based and analytical work examining one of the most pivotal periods in Iranian literary history. Translated by Behzad Zarehdaran, the book compiles a series of essays by various scholars, curated by Homayoun Katouzian and Alireza Korangi. It offers a comprehensive picture of the transformation of Persian poetry during the Constitutional Revolution, exploring its roots, precursors, and the ways it reflected social and political change. The work examines poetry’s role in shaping public awareness and discourse, the transition from traditional poetic forms to socially and politically engaged expression, thematic innovations, and the contributions of key poets of the period.
Homayoun Katouzian, one of the book’s editors and contributors, noted in an interview with IBNA that the volume highlights aspects of Constitutional-era literature that have received less attention in previous studies. “A significant body of work already exists on this period, but we focused on areas that have been relatively underexplored,” he explained. Katouzian added that while the literature of the Constitutional era is extensive and important, research has tended to emphasize only a few poets and satirists, leaving room for further exploration.
One of the essays in the book, authored by Katouzian, focuses on the poet Iraj Mirza, titled Iraj: Poet of Love and Satire. The essay emphasizes the role of humor and satirical literature in the Constitutional era. Katouzian explained that only a portion of his essay was published in the book, noting that only one satirical poem by Iraj from the Constitutional Revolution period survives. Later works established him as one of the most prominent Persian satirists of the twentieth century, though he was not politically active in the strict sense.
Katouzian also highlighted the key difference between satirical poetry of the Constitutional period and classical Persian satire, “Constitutional-era satire is largely political, unlike classical satire. For instance, works by Ubayd Zakani (and Iraj) contain sharp social critique but generally lack explicit political objectives.”
Another essay in the collection, Anthem of Freedom: Women and the Praise of Poets during the Constitutional Era, explores the contributions of female poets. Katouzian emphasized that the themes and forms of women’s poetry in this period mirrored those of male poets, since the subject matter was largely political and introduced many new terms and expressions.
Other essays include The Gilaki Poetry of Mohammad Ali Afarashtah and the Legacy of the Constitutional Revolution by Nasrin Rahimiyeh. Katouzian noted that while Afarashteh’s poetry in the Gilaki language differed slightly in colloquial tone, its structure and themes were closely aligned with other Constitutional-era works. Afarashteh later became a skilled political satirist writing in standard Persian, publishing much of his work in the satirical newspaper Chelanger, which he directed and edited.
A defining feature of Constitutional-era poetry, Katouzian explained, was the introduction of new themes into classical forms. In the essay The Song of Modernity in the Language of Tradition: Theory and Literary Practice of Mohammad-Taqi Bahar by Salur Malayeri, this feature is explored, raising questions about potential tensions between form and content. Katouzian stressed that no such incompatibility existed: classical forms could accommodate any content, and many new words and expressions emerged in this poetry, even in Bahar’s work. He further noted that certain forms, such as Mostazad poetry, which had nearly disappeared, were revived during this period, opening new literary paths alongside the introduction of political and social themes.
When asked about the necessity of revisiting Constitutional-era literature, Katouzian stated that while he does not see it as essential, “every poem has value and deserves attention.” He emphasized the importance of pursuing neglected research in this field, though he currently has no plans for further projects on Constitutional-era literature.