0.0/5 rating (0 votes)

ON THE POETRY METRICS OF RUSSIAN TRANSLATIONS OF FIRDAWSI'S SHAH-NAME

Avtors

Sharipov V.A.

Abstract

In the article, based on the study of literary materials on mutaqarib and the verse meter of the translations of the Shahnameh into Russian, the conclusion is presented that they belong to different prosodies, therefore, the representation of the Shahnameh by mutaqarib in this case does not seem possible. A study of scholars' and translators' views on the question of which Russian prosody meter is closest to the original reveals a diversity of opinions. When translating the Shahnameh into Russian, different translators at different times have resorted to iambic, amphibrach, and anapaest. Despite this, the analysis and determination of the size of Russian translations from the Shahnameh shows that specialists form two main groups: supporters of iambic pentameter (V. A. Zhukovsky, S. Lipkin, V. Derzhavin, I. Selvinsky, L. Penkovsky, etc.) and adherents of tetrameter truncated amphibrach (M. Lozinsky, M. M. Dyakonov, Ts. B. Banu-Lahuti, L. Gumilev, K. Lipskerov, Maria Petrovykh, etc.). Only I. Selvinsky and V. Levik turned to tetrameter anapaest. The issue of S. I. Sokolov's translations received particular attention.

Keywords

“Shah-name” by Firdawsi; Ts. B. Banu-Lahuti; M. Lozinsky; 
M. M. Dyakonov; L. Gumilyov; S. Sokolov; S. Lipkin; V. Derzhavin;
 iambic pentameter; amphibrach; anapest tetrameter

References

1.    Ayrumyan L. F. Firdawsi and German Literature // Soviet school. - 1985. - No. 1.

2.    Banu-Lahuti Ts.B. From the Translator. In the book. Firdawsi. Shah-name. Vol. 1 / Prepared by Ts.B. Banu. – Moscow: USSR Academy of Sciences, 1957. -1440-1453 pp.

3.    Braginsky, I. S. From the History of Persian and Tajik Literatures / Selected Works. Nauka Publishing House. Main Editorial Board of Eastern Literature. Moscow, 1972. – 524 pp.

4.    Braginsky, I. S. From Avesta to Aini: (A Study in the History of Tajik Literature). – Dushanbe: Irfon, 1981. – 256 pp.

5.    Veksler L. F. Abulkasim Firdawsi (Bibliography) / In the book: Bibliography of the East. Moscow. Issue 8-9 (1935); Institute of Oriental Studies, USSR Academy of Sciences. – Leningrad: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1956.-PP.61-69.

6.    Gulomova Z. “The Place of Translations of Firdawsi’s “Shah-nome” in the History of Tajik-German Literary Relations” / Gulomova Z. // Bulletin of the National University of Tajikistan. Department of Philology. - 2010. - No. 5 (61). Dushanbe: “Sino”. - 11 pp.

7.    Gumilev L.N. The Feat of Bakhram Chubina / Selection and translation of sources, introductory article and commentary by L.N. Gumilev. - Leningrad: State Publishing House. Hermitage, 1962. - 48 pp. https://www.globusbooks.com/pages/books/23716/l-n-gumilev/podvig-bahrama-chubiny (Date of appeal: 12/28/2025)

8.     Zhukovsky, V. A., Rustam and Suhrab. A Persian Tale, Borrowed from the Book of Kings of Iran (Shah-Name). Source: https://zhukovskiy.lit-info.ru/zhukovskiy/poemy/rustem-i-zorab/rustem-i-zorab.htm

9.    The Book of Kings Shah-name / translated by M. L. Lozinsky, edited, with    commentary and article by F. A. Rosenberg. – Moscow; Leningrad, 1934. – 156 pp.

10.Lozinsky M.L. The Art of Poetic Translation. // In the book. Etkind E. The works of M.L. Lozinsky // The Crimson Light / M.L.Lozinsky. Moscow, 1974. - PP.170-189.

11.Novikova, O. G. On the History of L. N. Gumilyov's Poetic Translation of Firdawsi's "Shah-name" http://gumilevica.kulichki.net/NOG/nog08.htm (date of appeal: 19.01.2026)

12.Rakhmonov B. R. Problems of Russian-Eastern Literary Relations in the Context of the Works of V. A. Zhukovsky and D. P. Oznobishin. – Dushanbe: RTSU, 2015 – 130 pp.

13.Rakhmanov B. R. Persian-Tajik Literature in the Context of Literary Connections of the First Third of the 19th Century / diss. Doctor of Philological Sciences / B. R. Rakhmanov. – Dushanbe, 2018. – 348 pp.

14.Samadov A. Subtleties of Translation / A. Samadov. – Dushanbe: Sabrina-K, 2016. - 183 pp.

15.Starikov A. A. Firdawsi and his Poem "Shah-name" / In the book: Firdawsi. Shah-name. Volume 1. – Moscow: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1957. -1952 pp.

16.Firdawsi. Shah-name. Poems. Translation from Tajik and foreword by Semyon Lipkin. / Moscow: State Publishing House of "Children's Literature", 1955. – 240 pp.

17.Firdawsi, Abulkasim. Excerpts from the Shah-name. – Dushanbe: Irfon, 1983. -144 pp.

18.  Firdawsi. Shah-name. Poems. Translation from Tajik and foreword by Semyon Lipkin. State Publishing House of Children's Literature of the Ministry of Education of the RSFSR, Moscow, 1955. – 239 pp.

19.Chalisova N. Yu. Abu-l-Qasim Firdawsi in Russian Translations: Reception Strategies / Russia-Iran: Dialogue of Cultures: International Scientific Conference, April 8, 2016 / edited by A. S. Zapesotsky. - St. Petersburg: SPbGUP, 2017. - 172 pp.

20.Chechnev Ya. D. On the History of Publishing Persian Authors in World Literature: Firdawsi's Shah-name (Based on Archival Materials). Part 1. /Ya. D. Chechnev // New Philological Bulletin. - 2022. - No. 2 (61). - 9 pp.

21.Chechnev Ya. D. How They Wanted to Publish Firdawsi's Shah-name in World Literature / Ya. D. Chechnev // Russian Literature. - 2023. - No. 1. - 9 pp.

22.Sharipov V. A. An Example of a Comparative Analysis of Russian Translations of "Shah-name by A. Firdawsi (Ts. Banu and I. Selvinsky). / In the book: Strategies and trends in the development of journalism, philology and linguodidactics: Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference. - Dushanbe: RTSU, 2023. - 373 pp.

23.Sharipov V. A. “Shah-name” by Firdawsi in Russian translations by Mikhail Lozinsky. // “Bulletin of TGUPBP”, issue 2 (103) 2025. PP. 78-90.

24.Sharipov V. A. On the Issue of Russian Translations of A. Firdawsi’s Shah-name. / In the book. Current issues in linguistics and the study of Russian as a foreign/non-native language. Proceedings of the Republican scientific and practical conference, Khujand, December 5-6, 2023. PP. 387 
25. Shoziyoeva G. P. Formation of Firdawsi Studies in
Tajikistan (1930-40s): diss. Cand. of Philological Sciences / G. P. Shoziyoeva.
- Dushanbe, 2017. - 178 pp.