Interpretation and analysis of the use of the word “camphor” in Khaghani's works

Camphor is a fragrant substance with many medicinal properties. This material, has been used a lot in Iranian culture and has also entered the field of Persian literature. Poets and writers have used this word in creating themes and inventing various artistic images due to the numerous and special features of this material. In the works of Khaghani Shervani, the word camphor has a high frequency of repetition. This poet, who is a master of creating meaning, in addition to using this word in its apparent meaning, has also considered the word camphor in many cases, in a figurative and literary sense, and has created imaginative artistic images. In most of the cases of using the word camphor, Khaghani associated this word with the types of science of expression and embellished his words with these literary ornaments. The poetic images Has created by Khaghani with the word camphor are divided into two categories: natural elements and human belongings. In using the word camphor, he has considered metaphor and simile more than all branches of rhetoric. In this article, the researchers first extracted the verses and phrases from Khaghani's works in which the word camphor is used, and then by analyzing those verses and phrases, they explained the imagery of the word camphor and unraveled Khaghani's poetry. At the end, by presenting the table, the statistics of Khaghani's use of the word camphor are given according to the imagery.
Introduction
Skilled and artistic poets strive to engage the audience's mind and guide readers to uncover the deeper layers of meaning within their words. By crafting imaginative poetic images, they enhance the artistic value of their work and create a sense of literary pleasure for the audience. One way to create evocative artistic images in poetry is to use words with multiple meanings; the reader must look beyond the surface meanings of these words and explore their secondary meanings to understand the poet’s intention and fully appreciate the richness of the language. One of these visual poets is Khaghani Shervani. Khaghani is a highly skilled poet of the Persian language, whose poetry features a variety of imaginative and artistic images. He uses language to convey multiple meanings and, like a masterful painter, creates beautiful and vivid poetic imagery. One such word he employs is “camphor.” Considering the properties of this medicinal and aromatic substance, Khaghani has used the word to create vivid imagery and, with the help of various rhetorical devices, has adorned his words with imaginative expression. Sometimes, it can be difficult for the audience to understand these artistic images, which are poetically concealed behind multiple layers and veils. Therefore, it is essential to interpret and analyze the use of the word in Khaghani's works, enabling readers of this great poet's poetry to derive greater literary enjoyment from poems that include this word. To date, no research has been conducted on the rhetorical interpretation of the use of the word in the works of any specific poet; this also applies to Khaghani's poetry. Therefore, this research is unique and necessitates an investigation and analysis of the rhetorical aspects of the word in the poetry of various poets.
Method
This research was conducted using a descriptive and analytical (library) method. After extracting verses and phrases containing the word camphor from Khaghani's works, the researchers analyzed these excerpts. Taking into account Khaghani's poetic style, they explained the imagery associated with the word camphor and explained the meanings of the verses and phrases. Additionally, they examined the artistic and poetic images the poet created through the use of by presenting statistics and tables, they identified the types of rhetoric Khaghani employed when using the word.
Results
With the help of rhetoric, Khaghani creates beautiful, colorful, and intricate artistic images using the word camphor. After examining Khaghani's works, it was found that this unique poet has used the word camphor 40 times. 6 of them, accounting for 15%, are used in their ordinary sense without a specific image, while in 34 cases (85%), the poet has envisioned the word camphor. This general statistic demonstrates the poet's particular focus on innovating imagery and inventing new themes. Khaghani has created 14 similes using the word camphor, which accounts for 35% of the total occurrences of this word. The volume of metaphors used by Khaghani involving the word camphor is greater than in his other literary works. He employed this word metaphorically 17 times, making the language more imaginative, which accounts for 42/5%. Khaghani used the word camphor as an irony in three instances.
Table of the use of camphor in the works of Khaghani Shervani (Source: Research findings)




usage


usual


simile


metaphor


irony


total frequency




frequency


6


14


17


3


40




Percent


15


35


42/5


7/5


100




Conclusion
Khaghani is a distinguished poet in Persian literature, known for his unique style. He skillfully invents new meanings and themes. His language and style are complex and intricate, challenging the audience to engage deeply with his work. Utilizing various branches of rhetoric, Khaghani creates vivid imagery and renders his words highly imaginative. He uses words figuratively, making his language complex and challenging. One of the words of this kind is camphor. With the help of the word camphor, Khaghani has decorated his words with various imaginative forms. In 85% of the instances where he employs the word camphor in his words, he incorporates literary devices. He has used the word camphor 14 times in his literary use of simile. The similes Khaghani employs with camphor include: the simile of day to camphor, morning to camphor, solitude to camphor, camphor to testicles, sky to a camphor bottle, letter to camphor, poet to camphor tree, poetry to camphor, sun to a camphor tablet, and sky to camphor. Khaghani is a poet known for his use of metaphor. He paid particular attention to the metaphorical use of the word camphor than to other aspects of figurative language. In 17 instances, he employed the word camphor in his metaphors. White hair and beauty, snow, day, whiteness, and yellow ink are the metaphorical meanings of the word camphor in Khaghani's poetry. Healso made use of the word camphor in three cases as an irony. Becoming blind is a phrase that is an irony to becoming blind, and the poet has used this irony in two cases. Making camphor, an irony to making cold and pleasant, is another ironic meaning that appears once in Khaghani's works. Among all the figurative forms, Khaghani pays more attention to metaphor; this poet adorns 42/5% of his words with the word camphor, which is a testament to Khaghani's mastery in metaphor and metaphorization.