فاطمه هادی زاده پیربستی

  In stories—especially modern ones—there is a close interconnection between rhetorical techniques and the narrative text. Imagistic parallelism, which is an extended form of the stylistic device known as analogy in Persian prose, is one of the most important rhetorical and artistic techniques in storytelling. By creating symmetry between images, it reinforces the structure of the text, highlights meaning, and enhances the impact of the narrative.

The present study aims to examine the status and function of imagistic parallelism in The Dark Half of the Moon and The Shepherd’s Lost Lamb by Houshang Golshiri, as well as in Two Worlds and Somewhere Else by Goli Taraghi. By imagistic parallelism, we mean the parallel events in the narrative that contribute to conveying the story’s theme. Such parallel narrative actions enrich the plot and increase its effectiveness.

Representative instances of imagistic parallelism have been extracted from the selected works and analyzed through a qualitative method. The findings reveal that, since in modern fiction—unlike realism—the theme is not stated explicitly, imagistic parallelism provides a new way of reading the text and uncovering its hidden semantic implications. This technique can be regarded as a form of formalist criticism which, by setting aside the author’s intention, focuses on the text itself and conveys meaning through narrative structure rather than content.

Golshiri employs imagistic parallelism mainly to emphasize semantic contrasts, existential crises, and the mental complexities of his characters. In contrast, Taraghi uses this technique to highlight the connection between past and present, the recreation of memories, the strengthening of a nostalgic tone, and the revelation of her characters’ unconscious.

Thus, imagistic parallelism in the selected works of Golshiri and Taraghi serves as a fundamental strategy for deepening the theme of the story. Their creative use of this technique illustrates the capacity of contemporary Persian fiction in the realm of imagery and meaning-making. This research can open a new path for analyzing contemporary Persian narratives and contribute to the expansion of modern rhetoric.

Keywords: Modern fiction, Imagistic parallelism, The Dark Half of the Moon, The Shepherd’s Lost Lamb, Two Worlds, Somewhere Else