Observing the Inner Theatre of Love Fictional Minds, Symbolism and Narrative in ‘Homay and Homayun’

Abstract

This paper examines the enduring significance of Khajuye Kermani’s epic poem ‘Homay and Homayun’ through the lens of Alan Palmer’s (2004) theory of fictional minds. The study aims to analyze the construction of the narrative’s characters and the reader’s engagement with the text through the use of the archetype of journey, linguistics affordances and cultural figments. The fictional minds framework utilizes social and cognitive theories to elucidate how characters within a narrative develop a sense of future consciousness. This framework emphasizes the internalization of emotions, the evaluation of potential choices, and the pursuit of collaborative action. This narrative analysis investigates how the narrator utilizes symbolism to bridge the fictional world of the heroes with broader themes of self-discovery, social responsibility, and cosmic consciousness. The study vividly demonstrates that the narrator skillfully employs symbolism and cultural cues to construct the protagonist's identity, a product of global cognitive and social forces. By providing narrative clues, the poet invites the audience to actively participate in the narrative, envision a utopian future and act accordingly to get there.