Classical Persian: Medieval Persian Court Poetry

Harvard FAS

This course provides specialized training in Classical Persian for reading medieval Persian court poetry. Readings include classic texts that shaped the stylistics and attitudes found in this tradition, as well as secondary scholarship in English and Persian. This semester the course will be centered on the poetry of Sanā’ī of Ghazna, who was trained in all the major genres of medieval Persian court poetry and adapted them to specific religious and philosophical ends. In addition to studying…