Reading: Naser Khusraw, “Safar-name” (Part 1, 2, 3, 4) & Keykavus ibn Eskandar, “Qabus-name” (Part 1)
Following the links provided above you will find excerpts from the two masterpieces of Classical Persian prose, Safar-name of Naser Khusraw and Qabus-name of Keykavus b. Eskandar. Both texts are written in clear and simple style which makes the reading and understanding of the text easier in comparison to later prose texts. The major difficulty of these texts are the high number of Arabic loanwords (although in later texts this number becomes even higher) and the technical terminology. The provided word-list will help you with the reading of the texts.
Listening: Video 1: An overview of the Qabus-name with a particular emphasis on the chapter presented above (On friendship) (The original video on Youtube).
Video 2: An episode from the Iranian KoolehGard podcast, featuring a discussion on Nasir Khusraw’s travel writings and the valuable insights they offer into the history, culture, and values of the regions he visited.
Subject of Conversation: Prose writing in Persian literature (اهمیت نثر در ادبیات فارسی)
In this part of the lesson the students will be required to discuss their ideas about the relative importance (or unimportance) of the prose writing in the Classical Persian literature vs. the high importance of the poetic writings. The students who will prepare their materials beforehand and will present their own personal views in grammatically correct language, will be given priority when assessing the success of each student.
Homework:
- Please do the reading assignment at home and prepare the vocabulary.
- Write a story or a memory about your best friend/s (about 200 words).
- Prepare for the next day’s discussion.
Vocabulary ("Safar-name"):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| محرم | moharram | 1st month of the Islamic calendar |
| صفر | safar | 2nd month of Islamic calendar |
| سنه | sane | year (Ar.) |
| ثمان ثلثین و اربعمائه | samān salasin va arba’ma’e | year 438 A.H. |
| قصبه | qasabi | center, capital |
| پیمودن | peymudan | to measure, to travel (a distance) |
| ولایت | velāyat | province |
| خطبه | xotbe | a sermon preached at the Friday noon congregational prayer |
| ربیع الاول | rabi’ ol-avval | 3rd month of the Islamic calendar |
| هلاک شدن | halāk šodan | to be killed |
| روانه شدن | ravāne šodan | to set out, go |
| شدن (= رفتن) | šodan | to go |
| فرسنگ | farsang | a measure of distance (=5.6km) |
| بی تحاشی | bi tahāši | blatantly |
| سرحد | sarhadd | border |
| تازی | tāzi | Arabic |
| ظن | zann | opinion |
| رطل | ratl | measure of capacity |
| رباط | rabāt | citadel |
| دمه | damme | cold wind |
| هنجار | hanjār | here: track, road |
| من | men | a measure of capacity |
| خیک | xik | churn or skin |
| قطران | qatrān | incense |
| بساتین | basātin (pl. of bostān) | pl. of garden |
| اشجار | ašjār (pl. of šajr) | pl. of tree |
| آدینه | ādine | Friday |
| گز | gaz | a measure of length |
| کنگره | kangar | niched battlement |
| صفت | seffat | description |
| تطویل | tatvil | delay |
| متوضا | motavaza | a place for ritual ablution in mosque |
| حجره | hojre | room |
| تحت الارض | taht ol-arz | underground |
| گرمابه | garmābe | bath |