The Department reserves the right to place any student in the course most appropriate to his or her skill level. Such placement will be the responsibility of the coordinator for each language program, and should be made by the fifth class meeting.

For current course listing, please visit the online course offering directory: http://www.virginia.edu/cod

Persian Placement Test Information

Prerequisite for PERS 102: PERS 101, or equivalent, or instructor permission Introductory language sequence focusing on reading, writing, comprehending, and speaking modern Persian through audio-lingual methods. Persian grammar is introduced through sentence patterns in the form of dialogues and monologues.

Prerequisite: PERS 102, or equivalent, or instructor permission
Each course focuses on the development of reading, writing, and speaking skills. Special attention is paid to reading comprehension using selections from classical and modern Persian prose and poetry, preparing students for advanced studies in Indo-Persian language and literature.

Prerequisite: PERS 202, or equivalent, or instructor permission
Study of works by major and some minor poets of the twentieth century. The form and content of "New Poetry" is discussed as distinguishing features of twentieth-century Persian poetry in contrast with those of classical Persian poetry. Emphasizes the themes of modern poetry as reflections of Iranian society.

Prerequisite: PERS 202, or equivalent, or instructor permission
A comprehensive, historical introduction to Persian poetry and prose from the 10th to the 18th centuries. Emphasizing the history and development of Persian poetry and prose, this advanced-level language course introduces various formal elements of Persian literary tradition. It analyzes literary texts and explores the linguistic structure, fine grammatical points, and syntactic intricacies of classical Persian.

Prerequisite: PERS 202, or equivalent, or instructor permission
This course addresses the development of modern(ist) trends in Persian literature, emphasizing historical and socio-political factors. Exemplar modern poems, stories, and essays are read in the original, then explained and critically evaluated. Defines and discusses significant ideas, ideologies, movements, trends, milieus, social backgrounds, etc., out of which modern Persian literature emerged.

Prerequisite: PERS 202, or equivalent, or instructor permission
Selected readings from the works of major writers of the century. Discusses the development of modern Persian fiction as it reflects a changing society. Improves reading ability in Persian and familiarizes students with Iran, its people, and its culture.

PERS 424 – (3) (IR )
The Life and Poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad

This course focuses on the life and art of Forough Farrokhzad in a spectrum of genres that includes poetry, short stories, travel narratives, literary criticism, essays, and films by and about her. Although from the beginning of her literary career, Farrokhzad was a daring, often irreverent explorer of taboo topics, she was also deeply rooted in the Iranian culture. We study the body of her work to better understand the subversive nature of its subject matter, technique, or point of view, as well as its simple, unpretentious, and lucid language. We also examine the rhetoric and poetics of sex segregation, voice, choice, visibility, and mobility in order to gain a more coherent view of the social, political, and cultural realities of Iran in the 1950s and 60s.

PERS 493, 494 - (1-3) (Y)
Independent Study in Persian

PERS 801, 802 - (1-3) (IR)
Independent Study in Persian

PETR 321/521 - (3) (IR)

Persian Literature in Translation Reading from the works of major figures in classical Persian literature, especially Rudaki, Ferdowsi, Khayyam, Attar, Mowlavi, Sa'adi, and Hafez, as well as the most important minor writers of each period. Emphasizes the role of the Ma'shuq (the beloved), Mamduh (the praised one), and Ma'bud (the worshiped one) in classical verse, as well as the use of allegory and similar devices in both prose and verse. Taught in English.

PETR 322/522 - (3) (IR)

Twentieth-Century Persian Literature in Translation Introduces modern Persian literature in the context of Iranian society and civilization. Lectures and discussions follow the development of modern Persian poetry and prose, and trace the influence of Western and other literature, as well as Iranian literary and cultural heritage, on the works of contemporary Iranian writers. Facilitates understanding of contemporary Iran, especially its people, both individually and collectively, with their particular problems and aspirations in the twentieth-century world. Taught in English.