Reading: A short story titled “Like All the Afternoons” written by Zoya Pirzad, , one of the most renowned contemporary Iranian prose writers, known for her subtle storytelling and focus on everyday life. Reading this story will help students better understand the narrative style and themes of modern Iranian literature.
You may also find this article about the history of the Persian literature of interest.
Listening: Video 1: A documentary directed by Kioumars Derambakhsh based on the novel “The Blind Owl” by Sadegh Hedayat, one of the most influential pre-revolutionary Iranian writers, known for his pioneering modernist prose and deep exploration of alienation and despair.
Video 2: A brief summary of the history of modern Persian Literature during the last 100 years.
Subject of Conversation: Modern Persian Prose literature (ادبیات منثور معاصر ایرانی).
Each student will be required to choose one literary work from modern Persian literature (a novel, story etc.) and present it in the classroom. After each presentation a discussion on the importance will follow, involving other students. Alternatively, the class may opt for a broader discussion on the historical development and modern trends in Iranian prose literature. Active participation, along with the accurate use of vocabulary and grammar, will be key factors in assessing each student’s performance.
Homework:
- Continue reading the story “Like All the Afternoons” and study the vocabulary.
- Watch the second video and answer the following question: What reached its peak (اوج)
during the Pahlavi period (in the years of Reza Shah)?
- When did you first get acquainted to the Iranian literature? Write about your initial impressions and how your understanding has evolved over time (around 200 words).
Vocabulary (Short story and Video 1):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| کشیک داشتن | kešik dāštan | to be on duty |
| پهن | pahn | wide, broad |
| روپوش | rupuš | outwear, uniform, cover, veil |
| فاصله | fāsele | distance |
| روزکار بودن | ruzkār budan | to work day shift |
| یادداشت | yāddašt | note |
| خواب‌آلود | xābālud | sleepy |
| نیمکت | nimkat | bench |
| از قصد | az qasd | intentionally |
| تار | tār | string (here: of hair) |
| فرصت | forsat | opportunity |
| ماجرا | mājarā | event, adventure |
| مضحک | mozhek | ridiculous, absurd |
| ریسه رفتن | rise raftan | to giggle |
| بوق | buq | horn (of a vehicle) |
| مقطع | moqatta' | interrupted, sectioned |
| سرک کشیدن | sarak kešidan | to peek in, to sneak |
| تزئین کردن | taz’in kardan | to decorate |
| تور | tur | lace, tulle, veil |
| عرض | ‘araz | width |
| پیچ و تاب خوردن | pič o tāb xordan | to twist and turn |
| حواس به چیزی بودن | havās be čizi budan | to pay attention, to be attentive to something |
| نحیف | nahif | lean, thin, weak |
| قوز | quz | hunch, hump |
| چارچوب | čārčub | frame |
| خلوت شدن | xalvat šodan | to become quiet, to become less crowded |
| بلاتکلیف | belātaklif | uncertain, undecided |
| غربت | ƴorbat | foreignness, exile |
| پرملال | pormalāl | sorrowful |
| مضطرب | moztareb | anxious |
| بازماندن | bāzmāndan | to be left behind, to fail |
| وصیت‌نامه | vasiyyatnāme | will |
| به جا گذاشتن | be jā gozāštan | to leave behind |
| سیما | simā | image, face |
| نمایان ساختن | namāyān sāxtan | to reveal, to make visible |
| اشرافی | ašrāfi | aristocratic |
| اهل ادب | ahl-e adab | cultured, refined person |
| پرنفوذ | pornofuz | influential |
| محیط | mohit | environment |
| رخنه کردن | rexne kardan | to infiltrate, to penetrate |
| از چیزی چشم پوشیدن | az čizi češm pušidan | to overlook, to ignore something |
| انس گرفتن | ons gereftan | to become close |
| رو آوردن | ru āvardan | to turn to (something) |
| نیاکان (مفرد: نیا) | niākān (sing. niyā) | ancestors |
| پیشرو | pišrou | pioneer |
| پستی | pasti | meanness, lowness |
| زهراگین | zahrāgin | poisonous |
| خرافه پرستی | xorāfeparasti | superstition |
| چاپلوسی | čāplusi | flattery |
| مال اندوزی | mālanduzi | hoarding wealth |
| زاهدنما | zāhednamā | pseudo-pious, false saint |
| لاف‌زن | lāfzān | boaster |
| ریاکار | riyākār | hypocrite |
| فروتن | forutan | humble |
| به رغم | be raƴm-e | despite |
| زبردست | zebardast | skillful |
| قصه‌سرا | qessesarā | storyteller |
| هجایی | hejāyi | satirical, mocking |
| بی‌پروا | biparvā | reckless |
| انجامیدن | anjāmidan | to end in, to result |
| بی‌پشت و پناه | bipošt o panāh | unprotected, defenseless |
| ناسازگاری | nāsāzegāri | discord, dissonance, conflict |
| زیست کردن | zist kardan | to live |
| زاد و بوم | zād o bum | homeland |
| مقبره | maqbare | tomb |
| زده شدن | zade šodan | to be struck, to be affected |
| بیزار بودن | bizār budan | to be weary, to be fed up |
| اعصاب کسی خرد شدن | a'sāb-e kasi xord šodan | someone's nerves being shattered |
| محکوم | mahkum | condemned |
| حوصله | housele | mood, patience |
| تشویق شدن | tašviq šodan | to be encouraged |
| گول زدن | gul zadan | to deceive |
| ورطه | varte | abyss, precipice |
| به وجود آمدن | be vojud āmadan | to emerge, to come into being |
| خراشیدن | xarāšidan | to scratch; to scrape |