The Analysis of Stylistic Functions of Simile in the First Volume of the Shahnameh

Considering the rhetorical techniques of a literary work is one of the ways to discover the beauties of the text. Traditional rhetorical studies with a detailed viewpoint were often limited to determining frequencies and describing stylistic devices and their types in literary texts. In contrast, rhetorical stylistics is a new approach in examining the rhetorical features of a text that examines the effect of stylistic devices on the topic’s processing quality with regard to a particular genre. In this approach, we are faced with concepts from the fields of criticism, linguistics and the like. In the present article, simile in the Shahname, the most important Persian work in the epic literary genre, was examined based on this approach to show how Ferdowsi was able to benefit from this linguistic and rhetorical device in narrating the stories of the Shahnameh. Knowing the differences between the epic genre and other literary genres and the necessity of using special rhetorical techniques appropriate to this literary genre, Ferdowsi could create a creative work by using some linguistic and rhetorical devices, especially by simile. Since “simile” is the center of poetic fantasies in “narrative”, it has been of high interest to the poet as a stylistic component in narratives of the Shahnameh. In this article, the first volume of the Shahnameh was studied in terms of using the simile by using rhetorical stylistics approach in three parts of rhetoric, linguistic goals and narrative. And it was found that Ferdowsi has considered many capacities for simile. In addition to illustration and aesthetics, he has also used it in other branches of rhetoric, linguistics and narrative so that he does not have to use other boring and longsome techniques.