# Rostam — Poetry character guide

> Rostam in Poetry by Matthew Arnold.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** The mighty Rostam, the great Rostam

**First appearance:** 0001-i

## Snapshot

The mighty Persian hero who, stung by taunts about hoarding his fame, agrees to fight the young challenger in plain arms.

## Who they are

Rostam answers Gudurz's challenge with a smile that turns to wrath, refusing at first to risk his name against a youth, then vowing to fight unknown and unmarked. He longs for a son like Sohrab to carry his fame, lamenting the slight helpless girl he has, and dreams of hanging up his armour to guard old Zal. His pride, his weariness, and his choice of plain arms set the tragedy's slow fuse.

## Relationships

### [Sohrab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters/sohrab)

_family_

Rostam unknowingly kills his own son Sohrab in battle, a tragic father-son relationship marked by dramatic irony and profound grief.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters/rostam
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters