Literary sources in lyric poetry of Masihi Tabrizi

Abstract

The study of classical Azerbaijani literature reveals that poets drew inspiration not only from their predecessors and contemporaries but also effectively benefited from the rich traditions of folk literature. Therefore, when analyzing the works of any literary figure, their folkloric sources should also be taken into consideration. This article presents, for the first time, an analysis of the Divan of the 16th-century Azerbaijani poet Masihi Tabrizi from the perspective of folklore sources – a figure whose creativity has largely remained outside the scope of scholarly research until now. The poet’s Divan demonstrates that he skillfully synthesized elements of classical Eastern poetics with the language and poetic expressions of folk tradition, producing remarkable literary works. The poet’s use of proverbs, sayings, phraseological units, lexical and idiomatic expressions derived from the vernacular, as well as folkloric forms such as bayati [a traditional Azerbaijani poetic form], adds a distinct color to the language of his poetry. The linguistic richness of Masihi’s poetry is particularly notable for the multifaceted ways in which it draws upon folkloric sources. While the semantic nuances in his poetic examples created through folk-derived words and expressions are at times immediately apparent, at other times they require deeper interpretive engagement and analysis. All of this points to the poet’s profound mastery of the expressive potential of his native language. Furthermore, Masihi drew effectively on the national epic ”The Book of Dada Gorgud”, incorporating into his poetic language various sound patterns, lexical repetitions, and poetic expressions found in that work. Research indicates that through his creative engagement with folkloric sources, Masihi not only enriched his poetic diction but also achieved a more precise and vivid expression of his intended ideas.