An Investigation into the Components of Literary Realism in the Vagueness School (A Case Study of Mohtasham Kashani's Romantic Poems in the Jalaliyyah and Noql-e Oshshaq Treatises

The Vagueness School, or "Dabestan-e Voqu'", represents a significant movement in 10th-century Persian poetry. Departing from intricate poetic devices and elaborate fantasies, poets within this school favored simple language and meticulous attention to detail to convey personal experiences and real-life events. This approach, which prioritizes realism and eschews excessive imagination and literary complexities, bears a striking resemblance to the 19th-century European literary realism movement. Both schools share a fundamental objective: to establish a direct, accessible connection with the audience through straightforward, universally comprehensible language, thereby fostering a shared understanding of the author's intentions.
Mohtasham Kashani, a prominent 10th-century Vagueness poet, is widely celebrated for his renowned twelve-stanza elegy commemorating Imam Hussein (AS). However, his poetic repertoire extends beyond religious and panegyric works, encompassing a collection of romantic poems. Notably, his treatises "Jalaliyyah" and "Naql-e Oshshaq" feature poems that chronicle his passionate affections for two distinct beloveds. This research embarks on an investigation into the manifestations of literary realism within Kashani's romantic poetry, as presented in these treatises. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, the study draws upon documentary and library-based data collection. The research process involved a thorough examination of relevant printed sources, followed by the categorization and analysis of pertinent materials. The study's findings reveal that Kashani's romantic poems exhibit key characteristics of literary realism, including: detailed descriptions, the revelation and articulation of reality, the avoidance of ambiguity as a vehicle for imagination, a rejection of fantastical elements, and an objective, observational perspective on events.