Rhetorical Question in Tetra Stich of Khayyam

Abstract

One of the favorite literary and stylistic tools of Khayyam is inobservance. In many of his tetrastich, he frequently poses questions about very basic facts and rationales about life and world stretched around the poet. These questions ask about the reality of beginning, end and purpose of human life; free will of humans and its limits; and the probability of life hereafter. This short article is an attempt to discern Khayyam worldview, through all such questions posed by him in his poetry. It is concluded that main thrust of his thoughts proves him a core epicurean.