The Biographical Novel as a Hybrid Genre in a Novel by Yathrebi

As a modern genre in literature, the biographical novel occurs in light of philosophical, social and cultural developments, taking an evolutionary process. The present study has attempted to consider the transition of a biography to a biographical novel, as well as to explain the intellectual discussions and controversies led to this Genre. In addition, the research introduces some of aesthetic values for biographical novel, using a descriptive-analytical method. By emphasizing on the interdisciplinary nature of a biographical novel, this study shows that this modern genre is a field that represents the interactions among literature and the other fields such as science and art, so we can name this new genre as “Hybrid Genre” which matches with today’s multifaceted world. At the content aspect, the biographical novel turns from history to the individual, emphasizing on the role of human in making history, and at the form level, it enjoys special aesthetic values consistent with its content. The study has focused on “Qalandar and Qala” (the Sufi saint and the Castle), a novel written by Seyed Yahya Yathrebi as a biographical novel. The novel based on biography of Shihabaddin Suhrawardi a Iranian philosopher and founder of the Iranian school of Illuminationism in 12th century, and his philosophical thoughts. In this novel the symbol has played a central role as an aesthetic value. Moreover, the representation of a biography in a biographical novel has created discourses, having emerged because of the author’s attitude towards the subject, which are in accordance with the process of perceiving Suhravardi's thoughts.