Persian Literature

As one of the world’s richest literary traditions, Persian has long served as a vital medium for religious expression, scientific inquiry, and literary creation across a vast geographic expanse stretching from the Balkans to China. This course introduces students to Persian literature in translation through some of its most influential texts, including Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Nezami’s Haft Paykar, Sa‘di’s Golestan, ‘Attar’s Mantiq al-tayr, Rumi’s Masnavi, and the ghazals of Hafez. Highlighting the diversity of genres, voices, and audiences that constitute the Persian literary tradition, the course explores themes such as eloquence and the beauty of speech, human and divine love, kingship and heroism, ethics, virtue, and the quest for human flourishing.