Paradox in Fadwa Touqan’s Divan “July and the Other Thing” (Tˈamuz walʃɑiʔ alˈʔɑxar)

Abstract

The study presents a critical analysis of the use of paradox in Fadwa Touqan's collection “July and the Other Thing" (tˈamuz walʃɑiʔ alˈʔɑxar). It reveals that the poet willfully employs paradoxes in the collection, including the paradox in the title, which reflects her unique vision. Most of the poems in the collection incorporate various forms of paradox, such as verbal, romantic, dramatic, and motor behaviour paradoxes. The study explores the relationship between the paradox in the title and the other poems, focusing on the dialectic relationship between life and death. The study contributes to the limited body of Arab critical literature dedicated to the theory and practice of paradox in poetry, mainly in the context of Fadwa Touqan's works. Touqan, a prominent Arab poet, constantly used irony as a distinct stylistic feature in her poetry, particularly in "July and the Other Thing".