A Study of Bakhtin's Carnival Laughter and the Grotesque Sign in Attar's Madmen's Reasons (Ilahi Nameh - Masabed Nameh - Mantiq Al-Tatir)

Fazeli, Firouz; Vasefi, Sepideh

doi:10.22034/jlc.2025.496981.1699

A Study of Bakhtin's Carnival Laughter and the Grotesque Sign in Attar's Madmen's Reasons (Ilahi Nameh - Masabed Nameh - Mantiq Al-Tatir)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Firouz Fazeli ¹

Sepideh Vasefi ²

¹ Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, University of Guilan

² PhD student in mystical literature

10.22034/jlc.2025.496981.1699

Abstract

Laughter, despite its appearance, is a profound philosophical concept in which the types of truth, the universe, history, and humanity manifest themselves more deeply than seriousness. Laughter is a dialogue that can bring up serious matters without cost, using inverted language. One of the most eminent linguists utilizes the trick of madcap laughter against opposing and rebellious forces is Mikhail Bakhtin. Majnun, from his point of view, is not only an ordinary human being, but also with an obscure and inverted language is in conflict over the flow of political and theological power. This article, using a descriptive-analytical approach, aims to examine Attar's Mad Wise Men in accordance with the carnivalesque laughter technique with grotesque signs. In this research, by examining three works, Mosibat-Nameh, The Conference of the Birds and Elahi-Nameh, 106 narratives of Mad Wise Men were enumerated. As a result, 35 carnivalesque laughs and 17 grotesque،It was categorized and narratively explained.

Keywords

Attar

Carnival

Bakhtin

Grotesque

Laughter

Subjects