PDP3 - The Ruba'iyat

Author Bio:
Omar Khayyám lived from ca. 1048 to 1131 and was a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher known for poetry. He was born in Nishapour, Iran, one of the greatest cities of the Middle East, and born into a family of tent-makers. He wrote a treatise on algebra, and was appointed to head a commission to reform the eastern calendar, resulting in the Jalali Calendar. Khayyám risked persecution, as religious beliefs were deeply instilled in the people of that era and it was common for poets who made contradictory statements to be prosecuted. Since he does not write about any specific facts, his work in the Rubaiyat consists of philosophy, which is subjective and neither credible nor incredible. However, it was translated by Edward FitzGerald, so there may be some unreliability about the accuracy of the translation from the original text.

Historical context:
It was written in the 11th century in Iran, at the peak of classical Islamic science, philosophy, technology and literature. This would increase the shocking effect of Khayyam's opposing views at a time when the status quo was fundamentally accepted by all.

Summarize: 
Since the Rubaiyat consists of unconnected quatrains, there is no one cohesive theme. However, it does have a focus on materialism and living in the present, and many people believe that it is an attempt to reverse the dominant fascination with death, destruction, suicide, and the abstract ideas of "honor" and "revenge" that were prevalent in his society and placed above life, love, beauty, and pleasure. For example, he frequently speaks of his love for wine. This focus of secular ideas has not gone over well with the people of the Middle East, which is why the Rubaiyat is banned in many places. However, since it is a very "western" concept, it has received great love in the West. These ideas are supported mainly by making them sound appealing, through rhyme and verse. The intended audience is the general public, but these poems can appeal to scholars as well due to pieces of Khayyám's intellect and philosophy slipping into his words. Other ideas include living in the present and not dwelling in the past, and the advancement of time and fate. This piece tells us that the time and place he lived in was not living life pleasantly. Many of the people in his society spent too much time looking too far back or ahead, living on abstract ideas that supposedly gave their lives meaning. The Rubaiyat seeks to ground people, to bring them back from these ideas and help them enjoy what is in front of them, whether that be with regards to time or materials. Because this work contains very little accounts of facts in history, it can neither prove nor disprove anything in secondary sources.

Key quotation:
"XXI
Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and the best
That Time and Fate of all their Vintage prest,
Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to Rest."