Arts and Literature

Overview of Arts and Literature in Persian

Persian culture has a very long and rich tradition of هنر (honar, art) and ادبیات (adabiyât, literature). At B2 level you do not only need names and dates, but also the language to talk about styles, genres, and to express your reaction to works of art.

In this chapter we focus on useful vocabulary and typical phrases used when discussing هنر and ادبیات in modern Persian. Detailed work with classical poetry and modern literature is treated elsewhere, so here you learn how to talk about them in general, connect them to society and culture, and give your own opinions in Persian.

Talking about Art in General

In Persian, هنر is a key word. From it we get many common collocations that you can use to sound natural.

You can say:
هنر بخش مهمی از فرهنگ ایرانی است.
(honar bakhsh‑e mohemmi az farhang‑e irâni ast.)
“Art is an important part of Iranian culture.”

To talk about an artist in general you can use هنرمند (honarmand, artist). When you want to specify the field, you usually add another word.

For visual arts you often say:
هنرهای تجسمی (honarhâ‑ye tajassomi) “visual arts”
For performance arts:
هنرهای نمایشی (honarhâ‑ye namâyeshi) “performing arts”

Some very frequent types of artists are:
نقاش (naqqâsh) painter,
مجسمه‌ساز (mojassame‑sâz) sculptor,
خوشنویس (khoshnevīs) calligrapher,
کارگردان (kârgardân) director,
بازیگر (bâzigar) actor, performer,
موسیقی‌دان (musighi‑dân) musician,
خواننده (khânande) singer,
شاعر (shâer) poet,
نویسنده (nevisande) writer.

To talk about style, you can use سبْک (sabk, style).
For example:
سبک این نقاش خیلی مدرن است.
(sabk‑e in naqqâsh kheyli modern ast.)
“The style of this painter is very modern.”

You will also need basic adjectives of evaluation, such as:
زیبا (zibâ, beautiful),
خلاقانه (khalâghâne, creative),
جذاب (jazâb, attractive, engaging),
عمیق (amigh, deep),
سطحی (sathhi, superficial),
کلا‌سیک (kolâsik, classical),
مدرن (modern),
سنتی (sonnati, traditional).

A very common generic term is اثر هنری (asar‑e honari, work of art). This allows you to talk about any type of artwork even if you do not know the precise term.

You can say:
این اثر هنری پیام اجتماعی قوی‌ای دارد.
(in asar‑e honari payâm‑e ejtemâi‑ye ghavi‑i dârad.)
“This work of art has a strong social message.”

Visual Arts and Aesthetic Description

Visual arts are often called هنرهای تجسمی. This includes painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and sometimes graphic design. To speak about a painting you can say تابلو (tâblo) or نقاشی (naqqâshi).

For example:
این تابلو رنگ‌های آرامی دارد.
(in tâblo ranghâ‑ye ârâmi dârad.)
“This painting has calm colors.”

Useful words for visual description include:
رنگ (rang) color,
نور (nur) light,
سایه (sâye) shadow,
ترکیب‌بندی (tarkib‑bandi) composition,
جزییات (joziyyât) details,
فضا (fazâ) atmosphere, space,
خط (khat) line (also “script”),
فرم (form) form, shape.

To give a simple analysis, you can use patterns like:
این نقاشی … را نشان می‌دهد.
(in naqqâshi … râ neshân midahad.)
“This painting shows …”

For example:
این نقاشی تنهایی انسان مدرن را نشان می‌دهد.
(in naqqâshi tanhâyi‑ye ensân‑e modern râ neshân midahad.)
“This painting shows the loneliness of modern human beings.”

To describe style, use combinations with صفت + است or use phrases with با:
سبک او خیلی واقع‌گرا است.
(sabk‑e u kheyli vâqe‑gerâ ast.)
“His / her style is very realistic.”

او با رنگ‌های تند کار می‌کند.
(u bâ ranghâ‑ye tond kâr mikonad.)
“He / she works with strong colors.”

You can also talk about symbolism with the word نماد (nemâd, symbol):
در این اثر، پرنده نماد آزادی است.
(dar in asar, parande nemâd‑e âzâdi ast.)
“In this work, the bird is a symbol of freedom.”

Traditional Arts and Cultural Identity

Traditional arts in Iran are strongly linked to identity and history. The word سنتی (sonnati) is used for “traditional” or “classical” in a cultural sense. You will often see it in combinations such as:
موسیقی سنتی (musighi‑ye sonnati) traditional / classical Persian music,
معماری سنتی (me’mâri‑ye sonnati) traditional architecture,
صنایع دستی (sanâyé dasti) handicrafts, traditional crafts.

Traditional crafts include:
فرش‌بافی (farsh‑bâfi) carpet weaving,
میناکاری (minâ‑kâri) enamel work,
خاتم‌کاری (khâtam‑kâri) marquetry,
سفالگری (sofal‑gari) pottery,
قلم‌زنی (ghalam‑zani) metal engraving,
خوشنویسی (khoshnevisi) calligraphy.

To connect arts with identity you can say:
این هنرها بخشی از هویت ملی ما هستند.
(in honarhâ bakhshi az hoviyat‑e melli‑ye mâ hastand.)
“These arts are part of our national identity.”

Or:
معماری ایرانی ترکیبی از عناصر اسلامی و ایرانی است.
(me’mâri‑ye irâni tarkibi az anâser‑e eslâmi va irâni ast.)
“Iranian architecture is a combination of Islamic and Iranian elements.”

You may also want to refer to historical periods. Useful terms are:
دوره اسلامی (dowre‑ye eslâmi) Islamic period,
قبل از اسلام (ghabl az eslâm) pre‑Islamic,
دوره صفوی (dowre‑ye safavi) Safavid period,
دوره قاجار (dowre‑ye qâjâr) Qajar period,
معاصر (mo’âser) contemporary.

You can link art and history like this:
نقاشی‌های دوره قاجار زندگی درباری را خوب نشان می‌دهند.
(naqqâshihâ‑ye dowre‑ye qâjâr zendegi‑ye darbâri râ khub neshân midahand.)
“Paintings from the Qajar period show court life well.”

Literature: Basic Terms and Genres

The central word for literature is ادبیات (adabiyât). You will often specify by adding a second word:
ادبیات کلاسیک فارسی (adabiyât‑e kelâsik‑e fârsi) classical Persian literature,
ادبیات معاصر ایران (adabiyât‑e mo’âser‑e irân) contemporary Iranian literature,
ادبیات داستانی (adabiyât‑e dâstâni) fiction, narrative literature.

Within literature, you need to distinguish poetry and prose:
شعر (she’r) poetry, verse,
نثر (nasr) prose.

Main genres include:
رمان (român) novel,
داستان کوتاه (dâstân‑e kutâh) short story,
نمایشنامه (namâyeshnâme) play, drama,
مقاله (magâle) article, essay,
زندگینامه (zendeginâme) biography,
خاطرات (khâterât) memoirs.

You can talk about a literary work with اثر ادبی (asar‑e adabi, literary work). For example:
این رمان یکی از مهم‌ترین آثار ادبیات معاصر ایران است.
(in român yeki az mohem‑tarin âsâr‑e adabiyât‑e mo’âser‑e irân ast.)
“This novel is one of the most important works of contemporary Iranian literature.”

To distinguish between authors, you can use:
شاعر کلاسیک (shâer‑e kelâsik) classical poet,
شاعر معاصر (shâer‑e mo’âser) contemporary poet,
نویسنده مدرن (nevisande‑ye modern) modern writer.

Forms of Poetry and Poetic Language

Although the detailed study of classical poetry is treated elsewhere, at this level you should know the key words for basic poetic forms and for describing poetry.

Some traditional forms are:
غزل (ghazal) lyric poem, usually about love,
قصیده (ghaside) ode, often panegyric,
مثنوی (masnavi) narrative poem in rhyming couplets,
رباعی (robâ’i) quatrain, four‑line stanza,
دو‌بیتی (dobeyti) also a type of quatrain,
شعر نیمایی (she’r‑e nimâi) “Nimaic” verse, free verse introduced by Nima Yushij,
شعر سپید (she’r‑e sepid) blank / modern free verse.

Important basic terms for poetic analysis are:
قافیه (ghâfiye) rhyme,
وزن (vazn) meter, rhythmic pattern,
تصویر (tasvir) image, imagery,
تشبیه (tashbih) simile,
استعاره (este’âre) metaphor,
نمادگرایی (nemâd‑gerâi) symbolism.

To comment on poetry you can use sentences like:
شعر او پر از تصویرهای زیبا است.
(she’r‑e u por az tasvirhâ‑ye zibâ ast.)
“His / her poetry is full of beautiful images.”

In Persian literary talk, the verb سرودن (sorudan) “to compose (poetry)” is important. It is used mainly for poetry, while نوشتن (neveshtan) is general “to write.”
For instance:
حافظ غزل‌های عاشقانه زیادی سروده است.
(Hâfez ghazalhâ‑ye âsheghâne‑ye ziyâdi sorude ast.)
“Hafez has composed many love ghazals.”

Prose, Narrative, and Themes

For prose fiction, especially from the 20th century onwards, the central terms are رمان and داستان کوتاه. When you talk about narrative, you will often use these words:
شخصیت (shakhsiyat) character,
قهرمان (ghahremân) hero, protagonist,
روایت (revâyat) narration, account,
زاویه دید (zâviye‑ye did) point of view,
طرح (tarh) plot,
موضوع (moz’u) subject, topic,
مضمون (mazmun) theme, underlying meaning.

For example:
موضوع این رمان مهاجرت است، اما مضمون اصلی تنهایی است.
(mozu‑ye in român mohâjerat ast, ammâ mazmun‑e asli tanhâyi ast.)
“The subject of this novel is migration, but the main theme is loneliness.”

To talk about the narrator, you can use راوی (râvi, narrator).
You can say:
راوی اول شخص است.
(râvi aval‑shakhs ast.)
“The narrator is first person.”

Or:
رمان با چند راوی مختلف روایت می‌شود.
(român bâ chand râvi‑ye mokhtalef revâyat mishavad.)
“The novel is narrated by several different narrators.”

To speak about style in prose you need words such as:
زبان ساده (zabân‑e sâde) simple language,
زبان شاعرانه (zabân‑e shâerâne) poetic language,
زبان رسمی (zabân‑e rasmî) formal language,
زبان محاوره‌ای (zabân‑e mohâvere‑i) colloquial language,
فضای تیره (fazâ‑ye tire) dark atmosphere,
لحن طنزآمیز (lahn‑e tanzâmiz) humorous tone,
لحن جدی (lahn‑e jeddî) serious tone.

You can combine these, for example:
نویسنده با زبانی ساده و طنزآمیز به یک موضوع جدی می‌پردازد.
(nevisande bâ zabâni sâde va tanzâmiz be yek mozu‑ye jeddî mipardâzad.)
“The writer deals with a serious subject in a simple and humorous language.”

Drama, Cinema, and Adaptation

Although cinema belongs partly to “film and spoken media,” it is strongly connected to literature and theater. The core word for theater text is نمایشنامه, and for staging it you use تئاتر (te’âtr) or تآتر in older spelling. The word صحنه (sahne) refers to the stage or scene.

Useful related words are:
دیالوگ (diyâlog) dialogue,
مونولوگ (monolog) monologue,
پرده (parde) act (of a play), also “curtain,”
نمایش (namâyesh) performance, play, show,
تماشاگر (tamâshâgar) spectator, audience member.

Modern Iranian cinema is very important internationally. To talk about it, you need:
فیلم‌نامه (film‑nâme) screenplay, script,
فیلم‌ساز (film‑sâz) filmmaker,
ژانر (zhânr) genre,
سینمای هنری (sinemâ‑ye honari) art cinema,
سینمای تجاری (sinemâ‑ye tejâri) commercial cinema.

When a novel or story becomes a film or play, you can use the verb اقتباس کردن (eghtebâs kardan, to adapt).
For example:
از این رمان چند فیلم اقتباس شده است.
(az in român chand film eghtebâs shode ast.)
“Several films have been adapted from this novel.”

You can also say:
این فیلم بر اساس یک داستان کوتاه است.
(in film bar asâs‑e yek dâstân‑e kutâh ast.)
“This film is based on a short story.”

Evaluating and Interpreting Works

At B2 level, it is not enough to say “I like it.” You need language to evaluate, interpret, and give reasons. Here are some common patterns.

To say you like or dislike a work, you can use these structures:
این رمان را خیلی دوست داشتم.
(in român râ kheyli dust dâshtam.)
“I liked this novel very much.”

این فیلم را زیاد دوست نداشتم.
(in film râ ziyâd dust nadâshtam.)
“I did not really like this film.”

If you want to evaluate quality, درجه‎ی or سطح can help:
این کتاب از نظر ادبی در سطح بالایی است.
(in ketâb az nazar‑e adabi dar sat’h‑e bâlâ‑yi ast.)
“From a literary point of view this book is at a high level.”

For interpretation, you often use به نظر من (be nazar‑e man, in my opinion) and فکر می‌کنم (fekr mikonam, I think). Typical patterns are:
به نظر من این شعر درباره‌ی مرگ و زندگی است.
(be nazar‑e man in she’r darbâre‑ye marg va zendegi ast.)
“In my opinion this poem is about death and life.”

فکر می‌کنم نویسنده می‌خواهد نشان بدهد که …
(fekr mikonam nevisande mikhâhad neshân bedahad ke …)
“I think the writer wants to show that …”

You can also comment on structure and pacing using:
ریتم (ritm) rhythm,
سرعت روایت (sor’at‑e revâyat) speed of narration,
پایان‌بندی (pâyân‑bandi) ending, closure.

Example:
ریتم رمان کند است، اما پایان‌بندی آن قانع‌کننده است.
(ritm‑e român kond ast, ammâ pâyân‑bandi‑ye ân ghâne‑konande ast.)
“The rhythm of the novel is slow, but its ending is convincing.”

Arts, Society, and Censorship

Arts and literature in Persian‑speaking societies are often connected to social and political issues. To talk about this, certain words are important.

Key terms include:
آزادی بیان (âzâdi‑ye bayân) freedom of expression,
سانسور (sânsur) censorship,
محدودیت (mahdudiyat) restriction,
منتقد (montaghed) critic,
نقد (naghd) critique, review,
اعتراض (e’terâz) protest, objection,
تبعیض (tab’iz) discrimination,
عدالت اجتماعی (edâlat‑e ejtemâi) social justice.

Artists often “criticize” or “reflect” society. For that you can use:
انتقاد کردن از (enteghâd kardan az) to criticize,
بازتاب دادن (bâztâb dâdan) to reflect,
به چالش کشیدن (be châlesh keshidan) to challenge.

Examples:
این فیلم تبعیض اجتماعی را به شدت به چالش می‌کشد.
(in film tab’iz‑e ejtemâi râ be shiddat be châlesh mikeshad.)
“This film strongly challenges social discrimination.”

شاعران معاصر اغلب از وضعیت سیاسی جامعه انتقاد می‌کنند.
(shâerân‑e mo’âser aghlab az vaz’iyat‑e siâsi‑ye jâme’e enteghâd mikonand.)
“Contemporary poets often criticize the political situation of society.”

You can also speak about the “role” of art with نقش (naghshe):
نقش هنر در جامعه امروز چیست؟
(naghshe‑ye honar dar jâme’e‑ye emruz chist?)
“What is the role of art in today’s society?”

To mention censorship you can say:
به‌خاطر سانسور، چاپ این رمان چند سال عقب افتاد.
(bekhâter‑e sânsur, châp‑e in român chand sâl aghab oftâd.)
“Because of censorship, the publication of this novel was delayed for several years.”

World‑Famous Persian Figures

At B2 level, you should at least recognize some major names, so that when Persians mention them in conversation you understand what is being discussed. Here we focus on names and the basic word that goes with them; their detailed work is treated in other chapters.

In classical poetry:
حافظ (Hâfez) lyric poet, ghazal,
سعدی (Sa’di) poet and prose writer, moral tales,
مولوی / رومی (Molavi / Rumi) mystical poet, masnavi,
فردوسی (Ferdowsi) epic poet of “Shahnameh,”
عطار (Attâr) mystical poet,
نظامی (Nezâmi) romantic narrative poet.

You can say:
فردوسی حماسه‌ی شاهنامه را سروده است.
(Ferdowsi hamâse‑ye Shâhnâme râ sorude ast.)
“Ferdowsi composed the epic of the Shahnameh.”

For modern and contemporary literature:
صادق هدایت (Sâdegh Hedâyat) modernist prose writer,
جلال آل احمد (Jalâl Âl‑e Ahmad) writer and essayist,
سیمین دانشور (Simin Dâneshvar) novelist,
احمد شاملو (Ahmad Shâmlu) modern poet,
فروغ فرخزاد (Forugh Farrokhzâd) modern poet,
نیما یوشیج (Nimâ Yushij) founder of modern Persian poetry.

Useful pattern to mention them:
هدایت یکی از مهم‌ترین نویسندگان ادبیات مدرن ایران است.
(Hedâyat yeki az mohem‑tarin nevisandegân‑e adabiyât‑e modern‑e irân ast.)
“Hedayat is one of the most important writers of modern Iranian literature.”

In visual arts and cinema, you might hear:
سهراب سپهری (Sohrâb Sepehri) poet and painter,
عباس کیارستمی (Abbâs Kiarostami) film director,
اصغر فرهادی (Asghar Farhâdi) film director.

Example:
فیلم‌های کیارستمی بیشتر در جشنواره‌های بین‌المللی معروف شدند.
(filmhâ‑ye Kiarostami bishtar dar jashnvarrehâ‑ye beynolmellali ma’ruf shodand.)
“Kiarostami’s films became famous mostly at international festivals.”

Talking about Your Reading and Artistic Tastes

To participate actively in conversations about arts and literature you need phrases that express your personal taste and habits. The key verb for “to read” is خواندن (khândan), and for “to watch” is دیدن (didan) or تماشا کردن (tamâshâ kardan).

For reading habits:
من بیشتر رمان می‌خوانم تا شعر.
(man bishtar român mikhânam tâ she’r.)
“I read novels more than poetry.”

معمولاً شب‌ها قبل از خواب داستان کوتاه می‌خوانم.
(ma’mulan shabhâ ghabl az khâb dâstân‑e kutâh mikhânam.)
“I usually read short stories at night before sleep.”

To express taste, you can say:
سلیقه‌ی ادبی من بیشتر به سمت ادبیات معاصر است.
(salighe‑ye adabi‑ye man bishtar be samt‑e adabiyât‑e mo’âser ast.)
“My literary taste is more toward contemporary literature.”

Or more simply:
به شعر کلاسیک خیلی علاقه دارم.
(be she’r‑e kelâsik kheyli alâghe dâram.)
“I am very interested in classical poetry.”

For art in general:
من به هنر مدرن علاقه دارم، مخصوصاً عکاسی.
(man be honar‑e modern alâghe dâram, makhsusan akkâsi.)
“I am interested in modern art, especially photography.”

You might also be asked برای سرگرمی چه کتاب‌هایی می‌خوانی؟ “What books do you read for fun?” or
فیلم مورد علاقه‌ات چیست؟ “What is your favorite film?”

Useful short answers:
بیشتر … می‌خوانم.
(bishtar … mikhânam.) “I mostly read …”
کتاب‌های تاریخی / فلسفی / پلیسی.
(ketâbhâ‑ye târikhî / falsafi / polisî.)
“historical / philosophical / detective books.”

من بیشتر فیلم‌های هنری را دوست دارم تا تجاری.
(man bishtar filmhâ‑ye honari râ dust dâram tâ tejâri.)
“I like art films more than commercial ones.”

Vocabulary Table for This Chapter