1. What does Jalaluddin Rumi convey in his poems “The Tavern” and “How Very Close”?
2. How is mystical experience represented in “The Tavern” and “How Very Close”?
1.4 Benefits of the Study
The study is beneficial for both readers and those who are interested in literary works. This study helps the readers to understand more about the poems, so
that the readers are able to enjoy reading Jalaluddin Rumi’s poems. The readers can also enrich their knowledge of literary studies, particularly, about mysticism in the
Sufi order and mystical experience as an inherent dimension of human existence. The other advantage is that this study may make a useful contribution to other researchers
who want to analyze Jalaluddin Rumi’s poems “The Tavern” and ”How Very Close” on other topics related to Sufism.
1.5. Definition of the Terms
In order to clarify the meaning of the term ‘mystical experience’ used in this study, below is the definition of the term.
Mystical Experience
According to Rahner and Vorgrimler in Theological Dictionary mystical experience means the following:
a An experience, the interior meeting and union of man with the Divine infinity that sustains him and all other beings in Christian mysticism, in
Judaism and Islam, with the personal God as well as, b
the attempt to give a systematic exposition of the experience, on reflection upon it 1965: 301.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter contains mostly theories and approaches, which will strengthen and accompany my analysis of the work. This chapter is important to help me work
objectively and develop my comprehension logically. The first section is the Theoretical Review which discusses the theories used in analyzing the poems. This
thesis employs the Structural-Semiotics theory. The second section is the Review of Related Studies which is employed as the important element in deepening the
analysis. This section is divided into two parts, namely: Religious Ground and Sufism. The third section is The Life and Work of Jalaluddin Rumi which later will
be correlated with the Structural-Semiotics theory used to analyse the poems. The last section is the Theoretical Framework.
2. 1 Theoretical Review
This thesis employs the theory of Structural-Semiotics ‘text and context’ proposed by Julia Kristeva in analyzing Jalaluddin Rumi’s poems. Jalaluddin Rumi’s
poems are seen as a complex structure. However, to fully understand the meaning of the poems, I include the information from the text itself and the context in which the
poems were written. To understand Jalaluddin Rumi’s poems “The Tavern” and “How Very Close”, Structural-Semiotics theory is used as the main element in
understanding the poems. The text is used to explore the intrinsic level of poems, while the context is used to explore the extrinsic level of the poems. To get a whole
unity of meaning, then, the approach is divided into two priorities, namely Structural and Semiotics.
The first priority uses structural theory to reveal information at a structural level of interpretation intrinsic. A structural level of interpretation investigates the
comprehensible linguistic signs. The analysis of the intrinsic level is based on the elements of the poems in a text taken from language, namely words, prosodic
features, and interpretation of the language in the poems at the intrinsic level. In order to understand the meaning at the intrinsic level, the assistance of a dictionary
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is needed. The role of the dictionary is to explicate the structural meanings of the poems which later serve as a basic foundation in organizing the essence of the poem
at a extrinsic level. The second priority, semiotics, is employed to discover the essence of the
poems through a deeper level of interpretation extrinsic. Semiotics theory explores the extrinsic level of interpretation which is seen from the context of the poems. The
context’s role is to provide information about the background which influenced Rumi and how he was able to create such poems. When we know how the background
influenced Rumi to create such poems, we are able to infer the message of Rumi’s mystical experience and construct the essential meanings based on the information
provided in its entirely. Thus, it is relevant that I provide information from religious ground, Sufism, Jalaluddin Rumi’s life, as well as the information about spiritual life
suggested by Kuinjabihari. The information from the extrinsic level is employed as referential
information in understanding the essence of the poems. Religious ground plays a
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Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners: International Student Edition, 2002
significant role in explaining the essence of religion’s interior side which aim to create a harmonious life. The understanding lies in the explanation that, to create a
synchronized life, humans need the correct concept of what a religion is. So, later, human feels happy in running his life.
Sufism is used as referential information for the reason that Sufism is the core of the religion of Islam the interior side, the role of this information is to give
knowledge for the readers. The readers will be able to understand and make a connection between Sufi concepts and the essence of the poems.
Jalaluddin Rumi’s life is used as the referential information of how he was shaped, through his journey in life, to be somebody who realized his true essence and
was able to create such works in which his essence was manifested. The information from a spiritual practitioner of Sufism named Kuinjabihari
serves to give the significant in making sense of the theory I read from many written sources. It also helps readers and I understand what spiritual life is like, which is
essential for readers to understand the poems deeper. The significance of this overall information is to help readers to have a better understanding of the poems.
The understanding of the poems comes when the readers know the context of Rumi’s life which influenced him to become a mystic, and the values explained in
the religious ground and Sufism. Thus, by employing Structural-Semiotics theory, I expect to get the complete meaning of mystical experience according to Jalaluddin
Rumi which is manifested in the poems “The Tavern” and “How Very Close.” Literary works are seen as structures of meaning-structures which have
meanings. As a matter of fact, literary works are a sign system which has a meaning that uses language as the medium. Thus, to analyze structure system, it needs
