A Structural Study of Abdullah Goran’s Poetry

Abstract

Abdullah Goran (1904–1962) is renowned for his significant contribution to modern Kurdish poetry which he has enriched profoundedly through literary techniques and the thematic orientation of his writings. He implemented fundamental changes in Kurdish poetry, written in the Sorani dialect, especially to its form, including innovations in its metric system, rhyme patterns, and poetic language.

This thesis highlights Abdullah Goran’s significant contribution, through our understanding of his poetry, by periodizing his literary work into three different periods. He begins with classicism, moves to romanticism, and ends with realism. The period of classicism (1921-1932), when Goran continued the traditions of the Kurdish classical schools, was followed by the period of romanticism (1933-1950) when he went back to Kurdish folklore tradition and purified his poetical language. Goran facilitated the transformation of Kurdish traditional literary poetry to a native Kurdish pattern through modification of three pivotal elements of the poetic form: metre, rhyme, and language. Then came the period of realism (1951-1962) when Goran was involved in politics and became an activist. Through his poetry and activism he made a significant contribution to Kurdish socialist realism.

Keywords: Goran, classicism, romanticism, realism, socialist realism, rhythm and rhyme in Kurdish poetry