The Influence of Oriental Literature on Albanian Romantic Poetry: from Hypotexts to Stylistic Transformations

This study examines the influences and intertextual connections between Oriental literatures (Indian, Persian, and Turkish) and Albanian Romantic poetry, with particular focus on the works of Jeronim De Rada and Naim Frashëri. Through the analysis of specific examples— recurrent narrative scenes, paratextual references (such as titles and explicit mentions of Oriental poets), and stylistic transformations—it demonstrates that contact with Eastern traditions did not constitute mere borrowing, but rather a creative process of recontextualization. In De Rada’s oeuvre, the hypotext of Dandin’s drama and other Eastern epics function as artistic sources that intertwine with a distinctive lyric-narrative structure, endowing his poems with semantic density and typological originality. In the case of Naim Frashëri, Oriental paratexts (Rumi, Saadi, Nizami) serve as a foundation for the construction of national metaphors and symbolism, transforming the poetic voice toward educational and patriotic purposes. The theoretical framework draws on Riffaterre’s concept of the reader as the agent who uncovers intertextual links, as well as on Eliot’s notion that literary value emerges through dialogue and intersection with other traditions. Ultimately, the study argues that engagement with the Orient revitalizes the typology and aesthetic significance of Albanian Romanticism, opening productive avenues for further comparative research.