EXPLORATION OF THE SYMBOLIC FUNCTIONS OF COLORS IN CLASSICAL AND MODERN KURDISH POETRY ( KURMANJI)

Abstract

This research attempts to analyze and compare the symbolic functions of colors as an artistic and semantic device in Kurdish poetry. Color is a primary symbol in the creation of artistic imagery, especially in poetry, and particularly in the classical and modern stages of (Kurmancî) poetry. In classical poetry, colors are used in connection with fixed meanings, general cultural symbols, and specific mystical religious references. However, in modern poetry, alongside political, social, and ideological transformations, the meanings and symbols of colors have also changed. These meanings have expanded and broken out of classical frameworks. Modern poets use colors as personal symbols that express their inner emotional experiences. Likewise, colors are used as a critical tool to address political, social, and human conditions. Therefore, this research presents the experience of colors in Kurdish poetry, reflecting the transformation of the poet’s emotional and intellectual awareness. It traces the evolution from the simple and symbolic use of color in the classical phase to the complex, intense, philosophical, and innovative understanding of color in the modern era. These transformations represent the symbolic reflection of the broader socio-political and cultural changes in Kurdish society.