Mojahed Gholami

Background: This research addresses one of the most important aspects of the complexity of Hafez's Divan. The lack of a complete manuscript from the poet's lifetime has led to numerous discrepancies in the recording of the verses; discrepancies that sometimes arise from the lack of Arabization or similarity of calligraphy, and sometimes from the manipulation of scribes. Objective: The aim of the research was to show how these differences in readings function in the rhetorical context of the poem and what capacities they create for producing meaning. Methodology: For this purpose, the cases of differences were classified into five categories and examples from each category were analyzed rhetorically and interpretively. In these analyses, in addition to linguistic aspects, the theoretical framework of hermeneutics of perception (Yaos and Eiser) was used to clarify the role of the reader in the process of meaning-making. Findings: The results showed that differences in readings often cause ambiguity and richness in the poem. Changing a word can create new layers of meaning and provide readers with diverse interpretive possibilities. From the perspective of reception theory, these differences also cause each generation to have a different perception of the poem based on its horizon of expectations. Conclusion: As a result, instead of a futile search for the correct reading, the difference in readings can be considered both a product of the historical conditions of the transmission of the text and a factor in the dynamism and polyphony of Hafez's poetry throughout history.