Elif Shafak Research Articles

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (review)

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (review)

Feminist Writing As a Healing Force for Personal Growth: Managing Pain In Black Milk By Elif Shafak

This research analyzes Elif Shafak’s Black Milk: On Writing, Motherhood, and the Harem Within (2011) memoir. It is significant for understanding the layers of feminism and how the idea of motherhood changes after postpartum stress. In this memoir, the role of women in feminist discourse demonstrates a motherhood with stress, and it discusses how to manage pain. In addition, the writer tries to highlight the relationship between women and their social performances and responsibilities. This research aims to examine the body, women, and the motherhood relation from women’s perspective. Women’s issues of postpartum depression, stress management, and economic productivity are analyzed through Black Milk. Shafak’s pregnancy and her understanding of womanhood created a conflict in her life for which she struggled to manage her pain. Feminism is an important part of women’s lives. Women’s mental breakdown calls for a rest cure, during which she discovers challenge.

Elif Shafak and Amine Maalouf: Rerouting the Silk Road or Remapping the World Cartography

The present article juxtaposes the fictional world of two major contemporary literary figures, namely Elif Shafak and Amin Maalouf through two bestselling opuses, The Forty Rules of Love and Leo the African respectively. It investigates how the two texts’rereading of Arab Muslim history operates a discursive manipulation, which not only remaps the world cartography but more importantly designs textualities as ‘contact zones’, thus rehabilitating the ascendency of Oriental space and celebrating its multicultural essence, its civilizational stakes, and its unique spirituality.

A Case Study on Translation, City, and Migration: Translation of the Novel ‘Honour’ by Elif Shafak into Turkish

A Case Study on Translation, City, and Migration: Translation of the Novel ‘Honour’ by Elif Shafak into Turkish

The Trees Speak for Themselves

Elif Shafak's 2021 novel The Island of Missing Trees describes fictional events that occur on the real island of Cyprus during the war between the Greek and the Turkish inhabitants of the island. This story is told from multiple points of view at various points in time in both Cyprus and London, where the characters move to and live following the events of the war and their families’ disagreements with their relationship. What is unique about Shafak's storytelling is her use of a fig tree as a primary narrator of events. While the use of non-human narrators is not a new strategy, most of these occurrences involve animal speakers rather than plants or objects. In delivering a fiction narrative from the point of view of a fig tree, Elif Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees introduces readers to multispecies encounters by providing an example of how arboreal figures communicate and experience history alongside humans in an anthropocentric world, and further encourages prosocial behavior between human and non-human species. Based on Shafak's novel, theories of attentiveness and slow-violence, and studies on the effect of non-human narrators on readers, including these "non-living" narrators in widely accessible pieces of fiction not only informs audiences of the multispecies encounters that occur in everyday life, but also opens more avenues of multispecies conservation.

Analyzing Islamic Philosophy in Elif Shafak’s Forty Rules of Love

The objective of this analysis is to explore the Islamic Philosophy of Sufism within Elif Shafak's The Forty Rules of Love. The research on the selected novel covers the Islamic philosophy of Sufism in the story and the characterization of the story and the philosophies of Sufism through the philosophy of Love in the story. The textual and content analysis is done by utilizing qualitative approach. By dissecting the novelist’s argument, from the textual level, small as speech, to the larger level of thematic argument and the arguments built about the core subject matters. The research concludes that Elif Shafak was able to incorporate and present the Islamic philosophy of Sufism through the characters and their progression through these philosophies. Thus, the novelist had managed to address the ways in which love is represented by the religion Islam and how it was presented through the teaching of Sufism. The authors had also discussed the way through which Sufism has been able to conquer and influence Elif's writing. The research covers historical account of 13th century Sufi, Rumi and Shams of Tabriz and provides a feminist perspective of the ways in which concepts of mystical and mundane get interlinked.

Affiliations, Aversions and Assertions: Memory, Identity and Amnesia in Elif Shafak’s The Bastard of Istanbul

The present study aims to investigate the nexus between memory, identity, and amnesia in Elif Shafak’s The Bastard of Istanbul. The proposed study will examine how collective amnesia inflicted by the state, aids in the erosion of historical memory of violence and inhumanity among its denizens. Memory of the past shapes a person’s life in a plethora of ways. It is a source of personal as well as collective identity. Memory travels across generations and links one’s past and future. It is created, destroyed, and recreated. The loss of memory or amnesia performs a crucial role in what one remembers, how one thinks of their self, and how one acts. The study contextualizes memory as an important source of one’s personal as well the collective identity. The loss of memory or amnesia performs a crucial role in what one remembers, how one thinks of their self, and how one acts. The study concludes that not everything can be remembered and not everything can be forgotten. After all, a little remembering and a little forgetting never hurt.

Rumi and the Paradox of Character in The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

This paper aims to study the characters in Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love in the context of Sufism. It primarily examines what Aziz and Ella represent beyond the text. Parallels are drawn between the eponymous characters, Rumi, and other mystics of the time. Sufi philosophy is studied through symbolic significance of the elements fire and water. The Christian wisdom present is also observed. Allusions to the Masnavi, Rumi’s magnum opus, is inferred to be present in the novel. Ella and Aziz grow and change. This growth is examined through the four stages of Sufism.

Geopolitical Configurations in the Fictional Terrains of Elif Shafak

Geopolitical Configurations in the Fictional Terrains of Elif Shafak

Intertextual Criticism: Unveiling Literary Connections in Elif Shafak's Works

This paper explores the concept of intertextual criticism and its application in the works of renowned Turkish-British author Elif Shafak. By examining the intricate web of literary connections in Shafak's writings, this study aims at uncovering the intertextual tapestry woven within her narratives. The methodology involves close reading and analysis of selected works and a comprehensive survey of intertextual sources. The critical approach utilised is a comparative study, which examines the influences, allusions, and references to other literary works in Shafak's novels. The discussion highlights intertextuality's thematic, structural, and cultural implications in Shafak's works. Ultimately, this article concludes by emphasising the significance of intertextual criticism in enhancing our understanding of Shafak's unique literary contributions.

Equivalence, Transposition, Modulation, and Adaptation in English or Urdu Translation of Shafak's Honour

Translation is a complex process that ensures cross-cultural communication in the realm of literature and literary writings, translation has been used to educate and inform readers about other cultures and traditions. The source and target language English and Urdu respectively vary a great deal from each other therefore; the underlying differences between these languages become apparent contributing towards inevitable shifts in translation. This research comparatively analyses Elif Shafak’s novel Honour and its translation in Urdu done by Huma Anwar titled Namoos looking at oblique translation techniques such as: equivalence, transposition, modulation, and adaptation. This research analyses the various examples where these translational shifts are apparent and studies how they have an overall impact on the target text. This research is grounded in the theoretical framework postulated by Vinay and Darbelnet in their seminal work Comparative Stylistics of French and English: A methodology for translation (1958). Wherein, two main categories of translations have been identified: direct translation and oblique translation further classified as, direct translation and oblique translation. The study finds that translational shifts and techniques have been utilised by the translator to convey the intended meaning and message to the target audiences with minimal loss of essence. Keywords: Equivalence, Transposition, Modulation, Adaptation, Honour.

Assimilation and Resistance: Cultural Negotiations in Elif Shafak’s Honour

Honour by Elif Shafak intricately explores cultural negotiations within the Toprak family as they grapple with assimilation and resistance in Istanbul and London. Elif Shafak, a Turkish-British author known for her masterful storytelling and exploration of cultural complexities, brings to life characters facing the challenges of adapting to new environments while preserving their cultural identity. Shafak’s works often delve into the intersections of culture, identity and societal expectations, reflecting her keen insight into the human experience. The themes of assimilation, resistance and cultural negotiations are recurring motif in literature, reflecting the broader human experience of adapting to societal changes while maintaining cultural roots. Through characters and narratives, literature explores the tension between assimilating into dominant cultures and resisting the erosion of one’s cultural identity. This theme provides a rich landscape for examining the complexities of identity formation, societal expectations and the enduring struggle to balance tradition with the demands of a changing world. Shafak’s Honour stands as a poignant example of how literature can illuminate the nuanced dynamics of cultural negotiation, resonating with readers on a universal level.

The Possession-Possessor Dichotomy in the Turkish-Museum Novel

ABSTRACT This article explores the possession-possessor dichotomy in the Turkish museum-novel. The process of curation presents itself as an aesthetic concept refracted between literary and visual perceptions of everyday life. The research presented focuses on the relationship between curatorial practices and storytelling, and its aesthetic importance to the process of archiving the identity of nations. The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk and The Flea Palace by Elif Shafak will be portrayed as literary institutions that resemble museums as re-imagined reconstructions of the nation’s social life. The collector figure in the literary and visual imaginations find themselves at the forefront of existential questions: Are the resulting collections controlled by the collectors, or is there a point in which the collections themselves begin possessing their original creators? Furthermore, this article argues that within the selected texts, the practice of collecting is institutionalized through the moving of an accumulation of objects from the private space to the public, manifested through museums, which can be otherwise thought of as memory institutions. Novel-writing originates from the same compulsive obsession as collecting: each process represents and equal effort to create, control, and manipulate one’s perceptions of the world and of their recollection of the past.

Exploring Feminine Spirituality: Elif Shafak and Mohammed Alwan's Literary Portrayals of Women in Sūfī Tradition

Exploring Feminine Spirituality: Elif Shafak and Mohammed Alwan's Literary Portrayals of Women in Sūfī Tradition

Understanding Intersectionality through Tequila Leila’s Experience in 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World (2019)

The article aims to explore intersectionality and its societal impact on the characters as portrayed in Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World (2019). This issue was extensively discussed to comprehend the representation of gender inequality and patriarchy in the story. Although the text has been the subject of discussion among a limited number of scholars, the novelty of this study lies in its adoption of a theoretical perspective that has not been utilized previously, specifically Kimberly Crenshaw’s framework of intersectionality. Methodologically, this qualitative study identified and collected the primary data from the text by selecting direct and indirect quotations relevant to the issue discussed. This approach was complemented by secondary sources from previous and related studies which were drawn from books and journal articles. Having analyzed the text by applying Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality, the authors found that Shafak represented gender inequality and patriarchy in Turkey as a hegemonic and systematic belief. The text also discovered that the perpetuation of the patriarchal system, rooted in the practices frequently justified by religious rhetoric, is effectively prolonged by the continued male dominance in shaping public policies. It also indicates that the main character, Tequila Leila, and the other characters in the story possess overlapping identities, leading to numerous unfortunate experiences. Tequila Leila’s oppressed experiences unveiled the structural and representational intersectionalities.

An Islamic Feminist Analysis of Elif Shafak's Honor: Empowering Muslim Women's Perspectives

An Islamic Feminist Analysis of Elif Shafak's Honor: Empowering Muslim Women's Perspectives

Monuments as “Sites of Memory”: Remembering the Forgotten Ottoman Past of the Modern Turkish Republic through Elif Shafak’s The Architect’s Apprentice

Monuments as “Sites of Memory”: Remembering the Forgotten Ottoman Past of the Modern Turkish Republic through Elif Shafak’s The Architect’s Apprentice

Eating and cooking beyond the borders in Elif Shafak’s The Saint of Incipient Insanities

ABSTRACT In her novel The Saint of Incipient Insanities (2004), Elif Shafak explores the theme of alienation by portraying a group of individuals who live in the U.S. and struggle to adapt to the American lifestyle. This article focuses on Alegre, a Mexican-American girl with bulimia. Surrounded by her Chicana aunts and foreign friends, Alegre is forced to adopt American culture, yet she is also asked not to sever her ties with her Mexican roots. I argue that Alegre's relationship with food mirrors her connection to the American and Mexican cultures: by gorging and disgorging herself with food, she challenges the frontiers that separate cultural identities and the borders that divide the inside and the outside of the self. Alegre considers the kitchen her native soil as it provides her with the space to challenge the boundaries of her own body and identity. The food she cooks there brings different identities together over one meal, where they realise they have much more in common than they expected. Thus, she creates an environment for others to find a chance to question the boundaries that restrict their identities.

Motives and Reasons for the Mystical Journey With Special Reference to Elif Shafak's Forty Rules of Love, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy

Motives and Reasons for the Mystical Journey With Special Reference to Elif Shafak's Forty Rules of Love, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy

Translation Challenges and Strategies in Urdu Translations of English Literary Text

Introduction: In the domain of literature and literary writings, where intricate processes facilitate cross-cultural communication, translation has been employed to enlighten and educate audiences regarding the customs and cultures of other groups. Significant differences exist between the source and target languages, English and Urdu, which consequently leads to the manifestation of the fundamental distinctions that inevitably influence translation shifts. Examining oblique translation strategies, including equivalence, transposition, modulation, and adaptation, this study conducts a comparative analysis of Elif Shafak's novel Honour and its Urdu translation by Huma Anwar, titled Namoos. Purpose of the Study: Based on Vinay and Darbelnet's (2000) model of translational shift, the purpose of this study is to examine the diverse translation strategies utilized by a translator when converting a source text (ST) to a target text (TT). The research objectives are further accomplished through the application of Vermeer's Skopos Theory of Translation. Methodology: A meticulous examination of the translation at the word, phrase, and sentence levels, in addition to a system of simple random sampling, followed by convenience sampling, comprised the data collection procedure. To ascertain the translator's application of translation techniques and evaluate their efficacy, the gathered data underwent qualitative analysis. This study investigates the general effects of the numerous instances in which these translational shifts are evident on the target text. The theoretical framework of Comparative Stylistics of French and English: A Methodology for Translation (1958), which Vinay and Darbelnet established, provides the foundation for this investigation. Where oblique translation and direct translation have been identified as the two primary categories of translations and subsequently subdivided into their respective subcategories. Findings: As determined by the study, to accurately convey the intended meaning and message to the target audiences, the translator utilized several translational switchboard operations and techniques. By employing these strategies, the translator has not only preserved the fundamental nature of the source material but also guaranteed that the translated rendition is sensitive to the cultural sensibilities of the intended beneficiaries. Conclusion: The translator has succeeded in producing an accurate and impactful translation that conveys the intended message by utilizing these strategies to surmount the obstacles presented by linguistic, cultural, and contextual differences. Overall, the study determines that the translator ensured that the text remained accessible and meaningful to the intended audience while remaining faithful to the original. In doing so, the translator performed admirably.