Introducing and investigating the stylistics of Haft Lashkar Masnavi

Haft Lashkar in the form of Masnavi is an epic tale which was composed in the twelveth and thirteenth centuries.  Since its first and last pages had been omitted, there is no information available about its author, yet it is assumed that its composer could have come from the Indian subcontinent.  In view of its’ stylistics features and according to manuscripts studies criteria this work enjoys the characteristics of the style common in the Safavid era.  This Masnavi is a verse narrative of a tale which appeared in the naqqali scrolls under the name of Haft Lashkar.  The most considerable part of this Masnavi is devoted to the tale of Borzu and his son Tamur or Taymur who intends to place Borzu on the throne instead of Kaykhosrow.  It appears that in composing this Masnavi, its composer had looked up to Shahnameh to a great extent but the poems are weak and unstable and at times meter is not respected. The composer employs feast and epic in feast and combat scenes. Applying documentary and library approach to the only copy left from the Haft Lashkar Masnavi, this research aims to assess it in terms of stylistics which involves examination of the every aspect of the language, its content and usage of literary devices.