The Explanation of Resistance Genre in the Framework of Aristotle’s Four Causes based on Shahname

Resistance is one of the genres which has been considered theoretically in the new era. However it does not mean the creation of similar works in the new era and the lack of its classic types. Considering the climatic and regional conditions of Iran, different national- patriotic examples can be seen in our classic literature. Other examples have been of substantive nature. Shahname can be considered as the best type in this regard, for in its superficial and deep layers, it is full of messages that invite people to resist. Interestingly, these messages are not just for a special point in time, but they can be understood and used in parallel in all periods. In this paper, we intend both to study and analyze this genre using Aristotle’s Four Causes and analyze different strata of the poem. We also try to explain and demonstrate resistance messages of Shahname that are covered in different layers and have diverse functions. Finally we conclude that Iran and Iranian resistance is rooted in their history.