Connection between epic and play in Shahnameh: Comparative Study of Cognitive Drama features in two Stories of “Rostam and Sohrab” and “Rostam and Esfandiar”

Abstract

This article aims to reject the eastern theories that believe Iranians lack classical texts which are presentable in play and makes an attempt to modify this theory and show that Ferdowsi  has been able to link epic and play in his stories by describing and matching based on capabilities and dramatic features of the stories of Rostam and Sohrab and Rostam and Esfandiar. The article provides the context of Iranian literature for the generation of play and drama, because existence of plan, description, characterization, causation, suspension, tragedy, conflict, climax, dialogue, time, and location have given play form and context to many tales of Shahnameh. Of course, Ferdowsi has not composed play but has composed epic. It can be argued that the stories in Shahnameh have the play structure in epic form.