فصلنامه نقد، تحلیل و زیبایی شناسی متون
نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 دانشجوی دکتری، گروه زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه ارومیه ، ارومیه، ایران.
2 استاد، گروه زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه ارومیه، ارومیه، ایران.
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
This research is conducted with a qualitative approach and comparative-analytical method within the framework of cross-cultural studies of mythology and examines the common grounds and differences in the epic literature of the two cultures of Iran and India. The main goal is to analyze and compare the mythical heroes of these two civilizations based on predetermined indicators extracted from valid theoretical foundations and text-based evidence. The research population includes prominent epic heroes in the classical texts of Iran and India whose narratives, characteristics, and functions have been recorded in valid mythological sources. The data were collected through library study and systematic review of sources, including books, scientific-research articles, theses, specialized reference texts, and also valid online databases. The findings of the study show that Rostam and Karna, as two fundamental heroes, reflect two different models of the mythical hero: Rostam in the Iranian tradition is the embodiment of power, practical wisdom, connection with the land, and the preserver of national identity, and more than being an individual character, he is considered an embodiment of cultural continuity and social cohesion of Iranians. In contrast, Karna in Indian myths, with its prominent moral and tragic aspects, is introduced more as a suffering, self-sacrificing, and meaning-oriented hero whose identity function does not go beyond the national level. This distinction shows that the Iranian epic tradition emphasizes the representation of resistance, patriotism, and the consolidation of collective culture, while the Indian tradition formulates the hero in the form of the experience of suffering, morality, and spirituality. Accordingly, Rostam has become a historical-mythical symbol in Iranian cultural memory, but Karna is more reflective of moral and individual concerns in Indian epic literature.
