Paratextual Reading of Hafez's Poems Based on Gérard Genette's Theory of Métatextualité

The aim of the present study was to read the context of Hafez's poems based on Gerard Genette’s theory of transmittance. Gerard Genette believes that hypertexts are the thresholds for entering the world of text and are therefore among the key indicators of textual comprehension and reception. In this research, relying on the trans-textual approach in Genette's trans-textual theory, Hafez's poems are examined. This analytical-descriptive research has been conducted through library studies. Genette believes that there is seldom a text that is naked. In other words, there are always words in the text that cover it either directly or indirectly. Therefore, there is no text without cover. The inner contexts of Hafez's poems in the form of concepts such as "Hafez's titles, Hafez’s narration style, self-reporting, other audience, realistic reading, atmosphere and offerings" and external contexts in form of concepts such as "imitators, contradictions, historians, commentators, illustrators, etc.” can be formulated. Findings indicate that Hafez's poems are a cover for internal contexts that complement the focal text of his poems, playing a significant role in the real dialogue between Hafez and his audience. On the other hand, external contexts around Hafez's poems have been present separately and discontinuously and have provided the ground for criticism and charm of Hafez's poetry.