Superstition in the works of Nizami Ganjavi: A phenomeno-semiotic analysis

This paper is a phenomeno-semiotic analysis of superstitions in two of the greatest works of literature in Persian by Nizami Ganjavi, namely Khosrow o Shirin and Layla and Majnun. The paper begins with a general explanation of what superstition is and then goes on to present examples from Nizamiʹs works to show how superstition had shaped human understanding of apparently supernatural events in the 12th-century. Linguistic elements that have been used by Nizami to embody superstitions are discussed. It is concluded that superstitions had five major causes: (1) manʹs attempt at relieving his fears, (2) manʹs awe at the sight of the unknown, (3) his ignorance of causality, (4) his purposeful attempts at consolidating/vilifying matters of faith, and (5) his thirst for material benefits.