An Introduction to Recognizing Myth and Explanation of its Identity - making Functions in War s Poetry

The imposed Iran- Iraq war, as one of the most significant events of contemporary Iranian history, affected different aspects of social as well as individual lives of Iranian people. Literature in general and poetry in particular witnessed a tremendous impact on Iranian thought at the time. With the start of the war, Iranian poets tried to make use of religious, historical and national myths in creating epical characters in their poetry which would help show the true Iranian identity.
The use of myths in war poetry shows that Iranians have preserved their bonds with their historical and cultural identity and use these historical symbols and structures in redefining their identity. This research work attempts to identify the religious and national myths which helped to raise the morale of Iranian people and forged unity among them.