The Analysis of Mantegh-Al-Teyr Based on Narratology

This article is an analysis of the narrative aspect of Attar’s Mantiq-Al-Tayr (Speech of Birds), based on the views of two structuralist narratologists- Gremas and Genette. On the one hand, using Gremas’s interpretative actanitial model, and basic structure of binary oppositions in this model, we will study the process of creating meaning and development of narrative units in Mantiq-Al-Tayr, as well as the role of binary oppositions, such as, meaning/ form, body/ soul, and the heaven/ the earth in the formation of the actantial roles. On the other hand, based on Genet’s theory, the three narrative levels of the story- narrative, narratology and linking features of these levels- will be presented in Mantiq-Al-Tayr in order to show to what extent this work enjoys narrative structure.