The Mechanism of Rhetorical Excess in Khāqānī of Shirvan’s Odes with Reference to Jeanne Fahnestock’s Theory of Rhetorical Excess

Document Type : Rhetoric

Author

Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.

10.22091/jls.2026.15075.1774

Abstract

Khāqānī of Shirvan’s Odes represent some of the most intricate examples of the genre in Persian poetry. In contexts where themes of suffering, loss, historical crisis, and protest are addressed, Khāqānī extends the language of the Odes beyond its conventional descriptive, panegyric, and emotional functions, transforming it into a medium of persuasive influence. This distinctive quality renders his odes highly suitable for comprehensive, text-based rhetorical analysis. This study applies Jeanne Fahnestock’s theory of rhetorical excess to examine the rhetorical action of excess in Khāqānī’s Odes. The aim is to explain how rhetorical excess contributes to the formation of Khāqānī’s stylistic individuality across three interconnected analytical levels. The research method is descriptive–analytical, based on library research and close textual analysis. The findings demonstrate that rhetorical excess operates systematically on three levels: at the micro-level of expression as localized persuasive acts; at the macro-level of the qasida as a structural organizing principle; and at the discursive level as a dominant framework of meaning production that transforms personal experience into a broader existential concern. This systematic use of excess constitutes a core element of Khāqānī’s stylistic individuality.
Introduction
The odes of Khāqānī Shirvani rank among the most complex texts in Persian poetry, possessing great potential for fresh interpretations and in-depth analyses. Within such a context, engaging with new literary theories becomes essential—particularly those that, in recent decades, have contributed to the revitalization of literary studies and the reinterpretation of classical texts.
Materials and Methods
The theoretical framework adopted in this study is Jeanne Fahnestock’s theory of Rhetorical Amplification, as presented in her book Rhetorical Figures in Science. This theory is recognized as one of the innovative and effective approaches in the analysis of literary texts. The present research employs an analytical–descriptive method based on library documentation and note-taking. The main objective, grounded in the obtained findings, is to demonstrate the efficacy of this theory in analyzing Khāqānī’s odes and to illuminate the stylistic individuality of the poet at the textual level. 
Research Findings
Based on the examination of rhetorical amplification in Khāqānī’s odes through Fahnestock’s framework, the study reveals that amplification constitutes the fundamental element shaping Khāqānī’s stylistic identity. The poet employs amplification in such a manner that elevates the odes beyond its conventional descriptive, encomiastic, or emotional functions, transforming it into a persuasive, interventionist, and identity-forming act. This rhetorical process operates across three distinct yet interconnected levels, collectively forming Khāqānī’s stylistic signature. At the first level—the micro level of expression—amplification appears as localized persuasive acts at the level of the line or couplet. At the second level, corresponding to the macrostructure of the odes, amplification transcends the local context to become the organizing principle of textual architecture. The research demonstrates that Khāqānī, through the gradual accumulation of persuasive actions throughout the odes, constructs a textual pattern in which rhetorical intensity continuously increases and directs the poem’s movement. At this stage, amplification is no longer a feature of isolated verses but the underlying mechanism that transforms the poem’s trajectory from description and lamentation to address, protest, and demand. At the third and highest level—the discursive level—amplification attains its ultimate function and becomes the dominant logic of meaning-production throughout the text The findings of this layer indicate that Khāqānī, by radically expanding his field of reference and interweaving personal, historical, religious, and cosmic dimensions, turns rhetorical intensity into a hermeneutic framework through which the reader must interpret the text.
Discussion of Results and conclusion
Overall, the study shows that distinguishing analytically between the micro-expressive, macro-structural, and discursive levels enables a more precise understanding of the mechanism of amplification in Khāqānī’s poetry. Fahnestock’s rhetorical theory, by emphasizing amplification as a persuasive act, provides an effective framework for analyzing these three levels. It clarifies that one of the key reasons for Khāqānī’s distinction among poets who write odes lies in the systematic deployment of amplification across all levels of his discourse. Consequently, applying this theory not only allows for a more accurate rereading of Khāqānī’s odes but also contributes to redefining poetic individuality within Khāqānī studies and broader stylistic, text-based literary research.
 
 
 

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References

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Rhetoric and Grammar Studies
Volume 16, Issue 29
March 2026
Pages 34-50

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