Forugh farrokhzad Persian poetness and feminist

Abstract

This thesis is the first evaluation of the life and work of Forugh Farrokhzad, a Persian poetess and feminist who died tragically at the age of 32. The first part starts by relating the circumstances surrounding her death and goes on to describe her family background, childhood, education, marriage and divorce. It then gives an account of her publications as well as other artistic activities in films and the theatre. The second part assesses her relationship to the movements for women's advancement in Iran. It covers the historical link between poetesses and feminists and also describes the activities of various critics of the role of women together with the work of various women’s' organizations. After examining the work of other Persian poetesses who had taken up the subject of women, Forugh's own views and writings on feminism are analysed and compared with them. The third part evaluates Forugh's place in the history of Persian literature and, in particular, examines the style of her poetry. It begins by describing the main forms of classical Persian poetry, and then the reasons for the introduction and spread of various modern styles of poetry. Examples are given of work which clearly influenced Forugh, and this is extended to cover religious teachings and foreign writers and poets. Forugh's own views on poetry are then recounted, followed by a survey of the changing style of her work. This part ends with some critiques of her poetry by Persian poets and intellectuals. In addition to bringing together and assessing information on Forugh, on poetry and on feminism in Iran, the thesis includes original or new translations of all or part of 24 of Forugh poems as well as of the work of 20 other writers.