Iranian Persian Language and Literature Promotion Society Research on Mystical Literature HTTPS://JP 1 4 2007 12 22 Antagonist in Shahname of Ferdowsi and other Iranian Epics Antagonist in Shahname of Ferdowsi and other Iranian Epics 39 60 16276 FA Hadi Yusefi PH.D student of Persian language and literature, Shahid Bahonar university Mahmood Modberi Associate professor of Persian language and literature, Shahid Bahonar university Mohamad_reza Serfi Associate professor of Persian language and literature, Shahid Bahonar university Yahya Talebian Professor of Persian language and literature, Shahid Bahonar university Journal Article 2016 06 14 The present paper written according to the library method of research, and presented both descriptively and analytically, was aimed to study the figure of antagonist in Iran national epics. <br />The conflict between evil and good powers has always been significant in Iranian epics, in which heroes are the manifestation of all venerable attributes, and the antagonists are the representation of evil characteristics. Hence, an antagonist struggles with the hero either because of the sensual motives or as a result of the will to reduce his power and qualities. <br />This article mainly focuses on the investigation of antagonist in the Iran national epics. It will be clarified that regarding the "types", the figure of an antagonist, could be classified into human, animal, natural and supernatural one whereas, regarding the "role" and "performance" of the hero, it could be categorized as principal, consultant, commander, combatant, tempter, assistant, allied, guide, formal, enamoured and instrumental one. (The features as well as the subcategories and definition of each of the categories are given along with examples.) The present paper written according to the library method of research, and presented both descriptively and analytically, was aimed to study the figure of antagonist in Iran national epics. <br />The conflict between evil and good powers has always been significant in Iranian epics, in which heroes are the manifestation of all venerable attributes, and the antagonists are the representation of evil characteristics. Hence, an antagonist struggles with the hero either because of the sensual motives or as a result of the will to reduce his power and qualities. <br />This article mainly focuses on the investigation of antagonist in the Iran national epics. It will be clarified that regarding the "types", the figure of an antagonist, could be classified into human, animal, natural and supernatural one whereas, regarding the "role" and "performance" of the hero, it could be categorized as principal, consultant, commander, combatant, tempter, assistant, allied, guide, formal, enamoured and instrumental one. (The features as well as the subcategories and definition of each of the categories are given along with examples.) https://jpll.ui.ac.ir/article_16276_5d43f4fb4f29ab9272c07c69b080168d.pdf