How did Nima Yushij transform the style and subjects of modern Persian poetry?

Nima Yushij was the pioneer of a radical transformation in modern Persian poetry, advocating for a comprehensive renewal that extended beyond thematic content to include prosody and imagery.1

His approach was significantly influenced by French Romanticism and Symbolism, which he introduced to his work in the 1920s. By challenging the rigid constraints of the classical tradition, Yushij laid the groundwork for what would eventually be known as "new poetry" (shi'r-i now).1

Although he initially faced strong opposition from traditionalists, his ideas gained momentum in the 1940s when a younger generation of poets adopted his modernist principles. This movement allowed poets to distance themselves from classical conventions, leading to diverse directions in modernization championed by figures such as Ahmad Shamlu, Forough Farrokhzad, and Mehdi Akhvan-e Sales. By approximately 1960, this revolution in Persian poetics had become firmly established, fundamentally altering the landscape of Iranian literary expression.1