UNIKOM

ANALYSIS INTRINSIC ELEMENT IN THE GULISTAN OF SA’ADI SIXTH CHAPTER OF THE FIRST STORY

ABSTRACT

The prose literary work has become an important part of the media in expressing and conveying an idea in human life. This study aims to determine the intrinsic elements in the prose of The Gulistan of Sa’adi, the sixth chapter of Sa’di Shirazi’s literary work. In doing this research, the researcher uses qualitative methods and structural theory. From the results of the research that the author has done, it can be concluded that the prose literary work The Gulistan of Sa’adi in the sixth chapter shows the difference between someone who is old and weak with someone who has a young age in contrast both in terms of life and religion. Sa’adi Shirazi also uses the first person point of view to sharpen the reader’s view on this literary work with the language style of the past era.

Keywords: intrinsic elements; Sa’adi Shirazi; The Gulistan of Sa’adi.

  1. INTRODUCTION
  1. Background

The Gulistan of Sa’adi also known as “Rose Garden,”, written by Saadi Shirazi, is a famous collection of poetry and prose that has earned its place as one of the great works of Persian literature(Bagheri Masoudzade and Fatehi Rad 2023). Through the wisdom and stories of various characters and situations, Saadi weaves a tapestry of life lessons and moral

teachings, all while shining a light on the intricacies of human nature(Najafi, Gazlani, and Bavanpouri 2016). The Gulistan is considered one of the most influential works of Persian literature(Bahadori, n.d.). It has been translated into many languages, and its popularity remains enduring even today.

The Gulistan is a reflection of Sa’adi’s wisdom, experience, and philosophy. It offers a deep insight into the human condition, how individuals should conduct themselves, and their relationships with others. In this work, Sa’adi touches on various aspects of life, such as love, forgiveness, justice, religion, and politics. Through his stories, he provides practical advice on how to lead a good life and navigate the complexities of human existence with grace and dignity.

One important aspect of literary analysis is the exploration of the intrinsic elements of a work of literature. This entails an examination of the various literary devices used by the author, such as character development, setting, symbolism, and themes. In the case of The Gulistan of Sa’adi, understanding these intrinsic elements is essential to fully appreciate the depth and beauty of the work.

Apart from its value as a piece of Persian literature, the Gulistan is also an important work for understanding the cultural and historical context of Persia(S. Shirazi, n.d.; Alizadeh, Asad, and Azizi 2021). It provides valuable insights into the moral, social, and spiritual beliefs of the Persian people during Sa’adi’s time. The work also showcases the richness and beauty of the Persian language, making it a significant contribution to world literature. Overall, the Gulistan of Sa’adi is an important literary work that has endured over the centuries. Its insights and lessons remain relevant today, making it a text that is still widely read and studied.

In this paper, researcher will explore the various intrinsic elements of Saadi’s writing in The Gulistan, paying particular attention to how these elements work together to create a rich and meaningful experience for the reader. By examining the text through the lens of literary analysis, researcher hope to gain a deeper understanding of the themes and messages that Saadi sought to convey in his monumental work.

2. Theoretical Framework  

In this study, researchers focused on the structural points of a literary work grouped into six categories: plot, characterization, setting, point of view,  subject,  and message in formulating the subject matter of a literary work(Yulfani and Rohmah 2021).

I. Plot in a story is the sequence of events or incidents that occur in a story. It consists of several elements such as exposure, conflict, climax, and resolution.

1. Exposition

Exposition is the initial part of the story that serves to introduce the reader to the characters, setting, and theme of the story(Rani and Winaya 2020). In exposure, the author will explain the background of the story, present the main characters, describe the atmosphere or mood that marks the beginning of the story, and provide important information about the initial state of the story.

2. Conflict:

Conflicts are problems or obstacles faced by characters in the story. These conflicts can be internal or external and take the form of disagreements, rivalries, moral conflicts, or many others(Sumasari 2014). This conflict triggers the development of the story, creates tension, and introduces challenges that the characters want to resolve.

3. Climax:

The climax is the culmination of the conflict in the story when two conflicting sides or characters clash to solve a problem. Climax is generally characterized by a tense or dramatic moment where the characters find a solution to the conflict and the situation becomes clear or shifts from conflict to a new direction.

4. Resolution:

Settlement or resolution is the last stage in the storyline(Ate and Lawa 2022). At this stage, all conflicts have been resolved and the story closes in a satisfying way. Wall resolution tells how the problems and conflicts faced by the characters are solved while ending the story as a whole.

Thus, the storyline consists of four interrelated parts, namely exposure, conflict, climax, and resolution. A good storyline between these four parts provides an attraction for the reader to continue reading until finally following the story being told.

II. Setting: The period of time and place where a tale is set (Riska 2020). The setting is very significant in some stories but not in others. There are a number of things to take into account when analyzing how setting influences a story:

a. Location- The geographical area where the story’s action is taking place.

b. Time- historical era, time of day, season, epoch; the time period in which the story is set.

c. Weather conditions- If it’s raining, sunny, stormy, etc.,

d. Social conditions – What does the character’s normal day-to-day look like? Does the tale have any local color, which is writing that concentrates on the speech, clothes, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a certain location

e. Atmosphere or the mood- What mood is established at the story’s outset? Eerie or upbeat?

III. A character is a character that appears in the story. It can be a human, animal, item, and something that is not real or fictional. While characterization refers to the traits and characteristics of each character (Nurcahyati, Yulianti, and Abdurrokhman 2019). The intrinsic elements of the story include plot, setting, theme, character, and characterization. The following is an explanation of the characters and characterizations in the intrinsic elements of the story:

a. Character

Characters include all people, creatures, or objects that appear in the story. They have different characteristics and traits that play an important role in the development of the storyline. There are several types of characters in the story, including:

  1. Protagonist: The main character who acts as the hero of the story.
  2. Antagonist: An antagonist is a character who is the opposite of the protagonist.
  3. Supporting characters: Side characters who appear in the story and help the development of the storyline.

b. Chacacterization

Characterization is the traits and characteristics possessed by the characters in the story. Writers usually use characterization techniques to introduce and develop characters in the story. Characterization will help shape the reader’s view of each character in the story(Nurrachman, Wikanengsih, and Mahardika 2020). Some characterization techniques used in stories are:

  1. Direct: This technique introduces the character’s traits and characteristics directly through descriptions given by the author.
  2. Indirect: This technique shows the characters’ characteristics through their actions or speech in the story.
  3. Mixed: This technique combines some of the above characterization techniques to give a more complete picture of the characters in the story.

By using characters or characters in the story, the author can strengthen the storyline and provide a more vivid picture of the theme of the story(Ariesandi 2018). Therefore, it is important to pay attention to characters and characterizations in the intrinsic elements of the story(Renmaur and Rutumalessy 2020).

IV. Point of view in a story refers to the point of view or perspective of the narrative. It is the way in which the author describes the events in the story, thus having a major influence in affecting the reader’s interpretation and understanding of the story. There are three types of point of view in stories, namely:

  1. First-person point of view: The narrator is a character in the story who tells the story from his or her own point of view. Private Gulliver in the novel “Gulliver’s Travels” is an example of a first-person point of view narrator.
  2. Second person point of view: The story is told from the reader’s own point of view, and is usually used in the form of letters or other related communications. An example is the novel “If on a winter’s night a traveler” by Italo Calvino.
  3. Third person point of view: The narrator is a third party who tells the story from a point of view that is not involved in the story(Nur 2017). Characters and actions are known through observation and description. There are three types of third person point of view in the story:
    1. Objective third person point of view: The narrator does not give the thoughts or feelings of the character described, but only observes and describes what happens in the story. This is usually used in journalistic works.Limited third-person point of view: The narrator gives the thoughts and feelings of only one main character in the story.

In choosing a point of view, the author must choose an appropriate point of view to tell the story effectively and fulfill the purpose of the story well. Thus, the choice of point of view is very important in helping to shape the reader’s feelings and experiences of the story.

V. Theme

A fictional work’s central message, “moral of the story” (itu Tema, n.d.) and underlying meaning may be the author’s opinions on the subject or their perception of human nature (Lombardi 2018)

  1. The title of a story typically draws attention to the author’s argument.
  2. To emphasize the theme, other figures of speech (symbolism, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony) may be used.
  3. Common themes that appear in literature, television, and film include: Things are not always what they seem to be. Love is sighted. Having faith in oneself. Change terrifies people. Never evaluate a book by its cover.

VI. Moral of the story, (Akbar, Radhiah, and Safriandi 2021; Inayyah and Simanjuntak 2022) explained that morality refers to several precepts and sermons about how humans should live and act in order to be a good human being and support the occurrence of a social order that is considered good. The notion of morality in literature itself is different from the notion of morality in general, which involves good and bad values that are generally accepted and based on human values (Yusuf, Nasir, and Mahmud 2022; Khalida et al. 2019). Human values (Mainake, RAMBITAN, and SIAMANDO 2019). Morals in literary works are usually intended as hints and suggestions that are practical advice for readers in their everyday life (Akbar, Radhiah, and Safriandi 2021; Gorsuch 2019).