Hafez’s and Molavi’s Ideas on Meaning

Abstract

Molavi (=Rumi) and Hafez, two Iranian poets in two succeeding centuries, have each their own ideas on meaning. Molavi
uses tales with human or animal characters in a symbolic and multi-layered fashion and Hafez makes use of the natural element of Saba
Wind as a channel for transferring a pleasant scent between the lover and beloved, and, thus, in this way they both confirm theories of
meaning in the communication process. Case studies of Hafez’s and Molavi’s poetry showed that they, not unlike contemporary western
thinkers such as David Berlo and Dean Barnlund, believe that communication is the process of transfer of the message from sender to
receiver providing the meaning received by the receiver be similar to that intended by the sender. This aim became possible through
comparing Berlo’s famous communication model with Hafez’s and Molavi’s poems. The results will be presented in tables and diagrams
and, finally, an answer will be attempted to the question as to whether it is possible to find a connection between prevailing western
theories in this field and the points mentioned by Hafez and Molavi.