The Analysis of Dstgheib's Literary Criticism Methodology

Abdolali Dastgheib is one of the prominent pioneers of Persian New Criticism who has dedicated nearly six decades of his life to research and criticizing and analyzing Persian literature. His works in this area exceed 100 books and articles. This study investigates characteristics of Dastgheib’s Criticism methodology, focusing on 15 of his books on works of Jalal Al-e Ahmad, Mehdi Akhavan Saaless, M.A.Beh Azin, Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh, Sadegh Choobak, Gholamhosein Saedi, Sohrab Sepehri, Ahmad Shamloo, Mahmood Dolatabadi, Bozorg Alavi, Foroogh Farokhzad, Ahmad Kasravi, Ahmad Mahmood, Sadegh Hedayat and Nima Yooshij. Based on this study, the characteristics of Dastgheib's criticism can be summarized as: 1- Employing simple lexicality close to colloquial language, 2- Constant inclination to analyze and criticize the content and the social message of the works, 3- Lack of a clear and consistent methodology, 4- Incoherent stylistic. 5- Angry and aggressive tone. In his criticism, Dastgheib is clearly inclined to Marxist scholars and Socialist-Realist approach. This closeness and resemblance is reflected in five areas; regarding art as a social matter, regarding realist art to be authentic, insisting on committed art, prioritizing content over form, and paying attention to character and characterization.