Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 10، Junuary 2026 ، issue Number 116

Phonetic and Lexical Stylistics of Character Descriptions in the Story of Siavash in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

Leila Arefi , Hassanali Abbaspour Esfadan (Author in Charge), Mohammad Ali Khaledian

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ferdowsi"s Shahnameh is not only a treasure trove of Iranian epic and mythological history, but also contains a linguistic and musical system serving to represent human characters and emotions. The story of Siavash is one of the most prominent parts of this work, in which Ferdowsi, using phonetic, lexical and musical elements, presents a linguistic and artistic image of characters such as Siavash, Sudabeh, Kikavus, Rostam, Gersioz and Afrasiab.

METHODOLOGY: The present study, with a descriptive-analytical approach and based on the structuralist stylistic method, examines Ferdowsi"s linguistic style in creating and describing characters. In this study, the main focus is on how sound and words affect the formation of the moral, epic and tragic faces of the heroes and anti-heroes of the story.

FINDINGS: In the story of Siavash, by using the rhythm of words, phonetic harmony, and precise and emotional word selection, Ferdowsi was able to reveal the inner layers of the characters not only through external actions but also through the inner music of the language. Soft phonemes, repetition of long vowels, and melodious words in describing Siavash create an image of purity, nobility, and gentleness of his soul, and in contrast, the use of explosive phonemes and heavy words in describing Afrasiab and Sudabeh highlight the negative emotional charge and inner violence of these characters. On the other hand, lexical analysis showed that the high frequency of words related to light, whiteness, purity, and nature in describing Siavash, as opposed to words related to darkness, blood, and fire in describing his enemies, forms a clear contrastive system that serves the moral and epic meaning of the text.

CONCLUSION: With his linguistic skill, Ferdowsi goes beyond the level of narration and, through the choice of words and the music of words, instills in the reader"s mind the boundary between good and evil, oppression and tyranny, and love and betrayal.

Keyword
Stylistics , Phonetics , Lexicology , Shahnameh , Ferdowsi , Siavash , Description , Personality.