Reading: Masnavi-ye Ma'navi (Part 1, 2, 3)
Listening: A 30-minute documentary about the life and work of Mawlana Jalal ad-din Balkhi, prepared by Voice of America’s Persian service.
Subject of Conversation: Rumi and his Mathnawi-e Maanavi in modern contexts (مولانا و مثنوی معنوی او در بسترهای معاصر)
Rumi’s Mathnawi-e Ma’navi continues to inspire readers and scholars around the world, far beyond its original historical and cultural context. In this section, students will discuss how Rumi's work is received and interpreted in modern times. Students are encouraged to do some research on the contemporary reception of Rumi, including translations, adaptations, and the role his poetry plays in today's discussions around spirituality, identity, and intercultural dialogue.
Homework:
- Do the reading assignment at home and prepare the vocabulary.
- Watch the documentary about Mawlana and try to summarize its contents in around 200 words.
Vocabulary (Reading):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| نیستان | neyestān | canebrake, reed forest |
| نفیر | nafir | voice |
| نالیدن | nālidan | to weep |
| شرحه شرحه | šarhe-šarhe | torn apart |
| فراق | ferāq | loneliness |
| لیک | lik | but, however |
| مستور | mastur | veiled |
| باد | bād | let it be |
| فتادن (= افتادن) | fotādan | to fall |
| کاندر (= که اندر) | kandar | that is in... |
| دریدن | daridan | to tear |
| تریاق | teryāq | a remedy, an antidote |
| دمساز | damsāz | a friend, companion |
| مشتاق | moštāq | desirous, eager, zealous |
| محرم | mahram | confidant, confidential, insider, intimate friend |
| آنک (= آن که) | ānke | the one that |
| گسلیدن | goslidan | to free, to loosen |
| حریص | haris | greedy |
| صدف | sadaf | cockleshell, mother-of-pearl |
| نخوت | nexvat | conceit |
| افلاک | aflāk | heavens |
| چالاک | čālāk | agile, dapper, dexterous |
| پروا | parvā | dismay, fear, heed, respect |
| غماز | γammāz | someone who reveals secrets |
| زنگار | zangār | rust |
| ممتاز | momtāz | excellent, exquisite |
| خواص | xavās | nobles |
| از بهر | az bahr-e | for the sake of, because of; in order to |
| کنیزک | kanizak | a slave girl |
| از قضا | az qazā | because of destiny |
| ربودن | robudan | to steal |
| پالان | pālān | saddle |
| می نامد (= نمی آمد) | mi nāmad | (s/he/it) wasn’t coming |
| مرجان | marjān | coral |
| انباز | anbāz | friend |
| الم | alam | pain |
| مرهم | marham | balm, embrocation, ointment |
| بطر | batar | arrogance |
| عجز | ajz | weakness |
| قسوت | qasvat | stone-heartedness |
| عارض | ārez | litigator |
| علاج | allāj | recovery; salvation |
| پا برهنه | pāberehne | bare-footed |
| جانب | jāneb-e | towards |
| فنا | fanā | destruction, ending, fate, grave |
| مدح | madh | praise |
| خروش | xoruš | cry |
| مژده | možde | good news |
| حاذق | hāzeq | proficient, skilled |
| سحر | sehr | magic, sorcery |
Vocabulary (Documentary):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| عزم داشتن | ‘azm dāštan | to intend, to set purpose |
| پای کوبان | pāykubān | (while) dancing with feet, stamping in rhythm |
| درد | dord | lees (of wine) |
| قلندر | qalandar | wandering dervish, ascetic |
| سر نهادن | sar nahādan | to surrender, to submit to |
| خطیب | xatib | preacher |
| خداوندگار | xodāvandegār | lord, sovereign, God |
| توابع (مفرد: تابع) | tavābe‘ (sing. tābe‘) | dependencies, suburbs |
| تملک | tamallok | possession, ownership |
| مناظره | monāzere | debate, discussion |
| منازعه | monāze‘e | dispute, conflict |
| تلمذ کردن | talamoz kardan | to study under someone, to be a disciple |
| مباحث (مفرد: مبحث) | mabāhes (sing. mabhas) | discussions |
| مربوط به | marbūt be | related to |
| شوق | šowq | passion, desire |
| بینش | bineš | perception, insight |
| آشتی دادن | āšti dādan | to reconcile |
| بی‌خود | bixod | senseless, unconscious |
| پیمانه | peymāne | cup, measure (often metaphorical in poetry) |
| هشیار | hošyār | alert, conscious |
| بتر | batar | worse |
| شوریده | šuride | driven to madness, disordered, madly in love |
| خرابات | xarābāt | tavern (esp. mystical context) |
| بر سر | bar sar-e | on, upon |
| راهسپار شدن | rāhsepār šodan | to set out, to depart |
| فتنه | fetne | sedition, turmoil, mischief |
| زادگاه | zādgāh | birthplace |
| شعله‌ور شدن | šo‘levar šodan | to flare up, to ignite |
| مقیم شدن | moqim šodan | to settle, to become resident |
| کامل | kāmel | complete, perfect |
| تکامل | takāmol | gradual perfection, development |
| ذهنی | zehni | mental, intellectual |
| روی آوردن | ruy āvardan | to turn toward, to begin pursuing |