Mojahed Gholami

Ali Mohammad Afghani and Ali Ashraf Darvishian are two renowned contemporary Iranian writers in the field of fiction, who narrate the social, political, cultural, and economic conditions of Iranian society during the first and second Pahlavi eras in a realist style. Among Afghani’s famous works in this regard is the novel "Shadkaman Darre Qara Su," whose main theme is the conflict between modern and traditional life. In this novel, through a romantic story, Afghani depicts the class disparities prevailing in society and discrimination against women. The novel "Cell 18" is one of Darvishian's stories on resistance and perseverance, where the author portrays the confrontation of four generations during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s rule, the dominance of SAVAK, and the struggles of opponents and activists against the regime.Examining storytelling elements in novels is a powerful tool for analyzing and interpreting details and connections between various elements, leading to a deeper understanding of the hidden messages and themes within the story. For this reason, this research conducted a comparative analysis of storytelling elements such as "character, plot, theme, setting, point of view, and narrator" using a descriptive-analytical method in the two mentioned stories. Through this approach, in addition to addressing the content of both stories, points of difference and similarity between them were identified. Ultimately, it was found that both novels use strong storytelling elements to portray life under difficult conditions and the fight against injustice and tyranny of their time. Despite differences in details, they explore similar themes. Furthermore, with strong and complex characters, engaging plots, and distinct writing styles, the novels captivate readers in their narratives and provide a deeper understanding of storytelling elements.