The text-forming role of semantic repetitions in Shahriar’s Persian Divan

Abstract

This study examines the text-forming function of semantic repetition in Shahriar’s Persian Divan. In literary discourse, repetition is not merely a device for structuring the poem or creating rhythm; it also operates at the semantic level to foreground key ideas, maintain thematic coherence, and intensify emotional resonance. Semantic repetition refers to the recurrence of words, phrases, or images that share identical or closely related meanings within a poetic unit. Unlike syntactic repetition, it is grounded in semantic proximity and may re-present the same idea through different lexical forms, thereby reinforcing the central message while enriching the poem’s expressive capacity.

In Shahriar’s poetry—rooted in classical tradition yet marked by innovative vision—semantic repetition contributes to the deepening of major themes such as love, separation, homeland, humanity, and spirituality. The semantic repetitions in the Divan function not only as aesthetic embellishments but also as mechanisms that strengthen imagery, focus thought, and expand meaning. Based on the analyzed examples, semantic repetition can be grouped into key patterns, including the use of synonymous or near-synonymous words across both hemistichs of a couplet, and the restatement of the same meaning in different lexical forms across separate hemistichs, which allows the poet to rearticulate a single idea from multiple angles.

Overall, the findings indicate that semantic repetition is a central stylistic strategy in Shahriar’s Persian Divan. It enables the poet to restate a theme through varied poetic techniques, highlight subtle semantic nuances, draw the reader’s attention to the poem’s core meaning, and create deeper spiritual, philosophical, and psychological layers. The frequency and effectiveness of these repetitions reflect Shahriar’s profound command of language and classical rhetorical tradition, where semantic repetition functions as a deliberate aesthetic tool for shaping both meaning and emotional impact.