How to Read Persian Poetry

Service Description

How to Read Persian Poetry: Grammar, Meters, and Rhetorical Devices Dates: October 14 – December 16, 2026 (online course) Time: Wednesdays, 9 – 10 am Pacific Standard Time (Los Angeles) Persian language skills: intermediate, advanced This course, taught in English and Persian, offers a general introduction to the grammatical, stylistic, and historical study of classical and early modern Persian poetry. Participants will be introduced to key texts that are representative of all the main genres characterizing the Persian poetic tradition from the 10th to the 18th centuries: epic, courtly, amatory, mystical, political, modernist, and philosophical. The twelve sessions will focus on the grammatical, stylistic, and socio-historical characteristics that foreground each text. The course will include an introduction to rhetoric, figures of style, and prosody. All original texts will be accessed through digital copies of reliable critical editions as well as rare manuscripts. Designed for both intermediate and advanced students of the Persian language, the course is also open to Persian native speakers and scholars who wish to be introduced to Persian poetry or expand their knowledge of medieval and modern Persian literature. * The course starts during the first week of October and concludes in the second week of December, spanning 10 weeks (10 sessions). The exact days and times will be scheduled based on the availability of both the instructor and the learners. * Once learners enroll, Silk Road Academy will coordinate the class schedule, process payments, and manage administrative details. * Silk Road Academy can issue invoices so learners can request reimbursement from their affiliated universities or institutions. * Class days and times may be adjusted in accordance with the request of enrollees. * Registered participants will receive full access to recorded session videos and all course materials. Dr. Domenico Ingenito is Associate Professor of Iranian Studies and premodern Persian Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles.