Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD Graduate and Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Payame Noor University of Tehran, Iran
10.22034/scart.2026.141093.1503
Abstract
Folk culture, as a component of the cultural and social heritage of societies, reflects the beliefs, values, experiences, and lifestyles of the people. Its presence in literary works can contribute to the representation of a society’s cultural and social milieu, as well as to the creation of more credible characterizations. The novel The House of the Edrisis by depicting social and cultural relations and reflecting the beliefs and behaviors prevalent in people's lives, offers a suitable framework for examining elements of folk culture. This study aims to identify and analyze the components of folk culture within this novel and to explain how they are reflected in the narrative. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method based on qualitative content analysis. Data were gathered by examining the text of the novel, extracting instances related to folk culture, and classifying them according to specific components. The findings indicate that the elements of folk culture in this work can be categorized into seven main groups: superstitious beliefs (including omen-based, projective, and substitutive beliefs); beliefs related to folk medicine; beliefs concerning animals; dreams and dream interpretation; colloquial vocabulary and expressions; proverbs; and *kenayeh* (idiomatic allusions/metonymies). These *kenayeh* are further subdivided based on their usage into those pertaining to a person, a trait, an action, or an origin. An examination of these components reveals that elements of folk culture serve more than a merely decorative or linguistic function; they are also instrumental in representing the characters' mentalities, conveying collective beliefs, recreating the cultural and social atmosphere, and reinforcing the realistic dimension of the narrative. Furthermore, the use of colloquial vocabulary and expressions, proverbs, and idioms lends a folk-like quality to the language of the narrative, while superstitious and popular beliefs reveal layers of the characters' worldviews and lived experiences. Overall, the research findings underscore the significance of folk culture in shaping the semantic and cultural atmosphere of the novel *Khaneh-ye Edrisiha* (The House of the Edrisis), as well as its role in connecting fiction with social beliefs and traditions.
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