Maintenance of an Iranian Identity through Oral Culture and the Shahnameh: “The Shame Is Not In Asking, Shame Is In Not Knowing”

Abstract

This chapter examines the rich history of oral culture in Iranian culture and traditions through sharing of folklore stories, poetry, proverbs, and idioms. The Shahnameh written by poet Ferdowsi, translated and referred to as The Persian Book of Kings, is one of the world’s longest epic poems which uses two-line verse couplets to document the history of Iran using a combination of myth and facts. The poetic stories outline the history of the Persian empire from the creation of the world until the Muslim conquest in the seventh century. Regarded as a literary masterpiece, the Shahnameh is considered instrumental in maintaining the history of the Persian culture and the maintenance of the Farsi language across generations. Communities and cities across Iran each have their own subcultures affiliated with unique ways of speaking, dressing, food, and mannerism reflecting the local culture and history. Elders and adults often share stories, proverbs, and idioms including those in the Shahnameh at gatherings during communal activities for educational and entertainment purposes. Through storytelling and sharing of oral culture folklore stories, proverbs, and idioms have become central in educating generations of Iranians worldwide. The focus of this chapter will be on examining the idiom, “پرسیدن عیب نیست ندانستن عیب است” (porsidan e’yb nist, nadānestan e’yb ast) which translates into “The shame is not in asking, shame is in not knowing.”

Activity Plan: The Art of Questioning—Understanding Who We Are through Oral Culture and Poetry