Modern Arabic Literature Research Articles

JAMAL ASSADI: A VOICE OF CULTURAL BELONGING IN MODERN ARAB POETRY

This article explores the poetry of Jamal Assadi, a prominent Palestinian poet whose works delve into themes of identity, displacement, and cultural belonging. Using a biographical approach, the study analyzes how Assadis personal experiences, particularly as a Palestinian Arab living in Israel, inform his poetic voice. By drawing on Assadis own words from interviews and his body of work, the article examines key poems to highlight his reflection on time, memory, and the socio-political struggles of the Arab world. Assadis use of both classical Arabic poetic forms and modern free verse techniques enriches the Arab literary tradition, blending the old with the new to address contemporary concerns.The critical method employed in this article focuses on the relationship between Assadis life and his literary creations, emphasizing how his poetry acts as a mirror of personal and collective experiences of exile and cultural fragmentation. Additionally, the article explores Assadis engagement with global literary traditions, showing how intertextuality plays a role in his political critique. Ultimately, this article affirms Assadis significant contribution to modern Arab literature, arguing that his poetry serves as both a continuation of classical Arabic traditions and a platform for innovation. By addressing themes of cultural resilience and political critique, Assadis work provides a nuanced and powerful voice within the broader landscape of Arab poetry, making it an essential subject of literary study.

New Trends in Arabic Novels in the Current Era

This study explores the new trends in contemporary Arabic novels, analyzing the thematic and stylistic shifts that characterize modern Arabic literature. The research highlights several emerging trends, including the diversification of themes, stylistic innovation, cultural hybridity, and the integration of technology into narrative forms. The study discusses how modern Arabic novels have expanded beyond traditional topics like love and politics to include more complex issues such as identity, migration, gender, and the impact of globalization. Stylistically, there has been a move towards more experimental approaches, with authors adopting fragmented structures, multi-layered narratives, and blending of genres. The incorporation of cultural influences from the West and the East has also enriched the content of Arabic novels, reflecting the multicultural experiences of modern Arab writers. Additionally, the use of digital platforms and technologies in storytelling is reshaping the narrative landscape, offering new methods for engaging readers. Through an analytical lens, this study offers a comprehensive look at how Arabic novels are evolving to reflect contemporary societal changes and global cultural interactions.

The Poetic Discourse on “Serendib” in Modern Arabic Literature: Mahmoud Sami Al-Baroudi as a Model

This article examines the impacts of Sri Lanka on the poetry of Mahmoud Sami Al-Baroudi, who was exiled there for more than seventeen years (1882-1899 AD). While no study has been done to reveal the extent to which the poet’s derivation from the Sri Lankan environment in his poetry, this research will attempt to clarify the poet’s approach in introducing Sri Lanka, showing the aspects of its nature, and then to discuss his poems about the Sri Lankan people. In order to accomplish these goals, the inductive method was used to track the verses and poems that addressed topics related to Sri Lanka, and then the analytical approach was employed to study and analyse those verses and poems. The study discovered that the poet followed the approach of ancient poets in defining Sri Lanka by using the name “Serendib”, which the Arabs called it in the past, rather than “Ceylon”, which was an official name at the time. Similarly, the poet’s admiration for Sri Lankan nature emerged, particularly the nature of “Kandy,” where he lived for nearly ten years of his life, and from which he derived imagery and ideas for his poetic production, that is, in some of the poems in which he is nostalgic for Egypt, as well as in two independent poems. Concerning the Sri Lankan people, the researcher discovered only some poetic verses in which the poet criticised the negative aspects of some of the people’s customs and cultures, as well as some of their moral and physical nature

Sections of the Arabic Language and The Interaction of Eloquence and Syntax in Arabic

The article deals with the interaction between Nahw and eloquence in classical and modern standard Arabic. In this regard, the parameters of linguistic variation and diglossia, eloquence - as a system of metaphors, al-mani ul-l-bayn, al-mani ul-l-maani, al-mani ul-l-art, the relationship of Arabic eloquence with the semantics of stylistics, the grammatical meaning of the factor, the concept of "sentence" in Arabic, stylistics, linguistics, semio-syntactic features of figures of speech, linguistic deviations and eloquence, semantic expression forms of syntactic categories and others. applied. The main sources of the research are the language materials of classical and modern Arabic literature. In particular, the works of medieval Arab eloquents, Nahwis, and modern Arabic and Western linguists were widely contacted and used as a source of research. The literal meaning of the word eloquence is "fluent, correct and clear expression". As a term, it is used in two senses. The first meaning is "ability" and the second meaning is "science". In Western languages (in French), the words "éloquence" are used instead of the meaning of "ability", and "rhetorique" is used instead of the meaning of "science". Eloquence as a skill is the use of words fluently, correctly, in place and at the right time. In other words, it is the sufficient and timely expression of the opinion orally or in writing. Before eloquence was studied as a science, it existed as a faculty in the language of poets, writers, and orators, and even in the language of the people.

An Analysis of Orientalist Approaches to Pre-Islamic Poetry From the Perspective of Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin

This article focuses on the pre-Islamic Arabian Jahiliyya period and the significance of the poetry from this era. The Jahiliyya period is considered a reflection of the pre-Islamic Arabian society and culture. The poetry from this period addresses societal, cultural, religious, and emotional themes, laying the foundation for Arabian literature. The poetry of the Jahiliyya period typically revolves around themes such as praise, criticism, yearning, love, heroism, and courage, while also touching upon the beliefs of the time. These poems serve as a rich reflection of Arabian culture and are regarded as crucial sources in Arabic Language and Literature, Arabic Rhetoric, and Islamic sciences. Orientalists, in their exploration of Jahiliyya period poetry, have produced works based on their own perspectives and methodologies. However, some Orientalists, particularly those focused on Jahiliyya poetry, have raised concerns about potential plagiarism and fabrication. These criticisms have evolved from the early views of Theodor Nöldeke to the radical approach of D. S. Margoliouth and the stance adopted by Taha Hussein. Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, possessing expertise in Classical and Modern Arabic literature sources, has argued for the originality of Jahiliyya poetry. Sezgin supports this claim by drawing upon classical and modern sources, while also critiquing the works of Orientalists. In this article, the reasons behind the suspicion of Jahiliyya poetry being plagiarized or fabricated are elucidated by examining the works of Orientalists. Furthermore, Sezgin's approach and methodology in asserting the authenticity of Jahiliyya poetry are analyzed.

FRAGMENTATION OF REVELATION AND HIDING BEHIND THE WALLS OF THE DISTANT MARGIN IN THE SAUDI FEMINIST AUTOBIOGRAPHY: An Analytical Reading of the Novel Madi, Mufrad, Mudhakkar/ Past, Singular, Masculine1 by the Saudi Writer, Omaima al-Khamis2

If the biography is a narrative type with an unimaginable reference basis, the feminist autobiography is a narrative type with a reference basis, in which the author is a woman who admits and does not imagine, as if it were unnecessary to differentiate it from the masculine autobiography, or because the latter is the dominant and the more productive, or because the human being is a terrestrial being, that has no gender. The author can be a man or a woman. However, the work remains described as a non-specialized autobiography. It is not difficult to differentiate between a male autobiography and a female autobiography, but it would be in favor of the first, the second of which appears to be subordinate to it. The autobiography was defined as a literary genre in ancient Arab literature more than a thousand years ago, and until recently it was a purely male literary genre, if we exclude some narratives of female autobiographies that we received mostly through oral narration. The autobiography in modern Arabic literature is not considered an extension of the ancient Arabic autobiography as much as a tradition of Western models of autobiography. In Saudi culture, the autobiography is still unknown as much as the novel or the story and the play, and to be common it took enough time to emerge from the cycle of contempt, whether as a produced text or a receptive text.

Наджиб Махфуздың «Біздің көшенің балалары» («حارتنا اولاد») романының идеялық-көркемдік ерекшеліктері

During his creative life, N. Mahfuz wrote more than thirty novels, among which the highest is the historical novel "Children of Our Street" (حارتنا اولاد) Modern Arabic literature is distinguished by a variety and abundance of works of a historical nature. The historical novel did not appear suddenly in Arabic literature, it is closely related to popular "folk novels" in the Middle Ages. The work we analyze clearly shows elements of historical presentation, describes the traditions of the east, and also shows a connection with certain historical figures and events. The novel tells the story of the development of all mankind based on the fate of the five main characters. In the work, the study of history is carried out by artistic means that allow you to compare distant eras, reflecting on the general issues of the development of civilization and human nature. The article talks about the work of the Nobel Prize winner, the emir of the Arab novel not only Egypt, but also the Arab Mia in general Najib Mahfuz and made a literary and theoretical analysis of his novel "Children of Our Street". And also analyze the style of the novel, the means of expressiveness and its plot, composition, theme and idea.

Sexuality in Emerging Translated Modern Arabic Literature

This article addresses the question of how The Corpse Washer (2013) by Sinan Antoon employs the translation of sexually explicit language to present a “resistant and hybrid cultural identity.” Adopting a postcolonial framework, the article explores the kinds of literary, linguistic, and translation-related interventions Antoon exerts to provide a hybrid-discourse to the hegemonic Anglo-American discourse of Arab sexuality, particularly through the creative and conscious self-translation of his novel.

Najib Al-Kilani, One of the Authors of Modern Arabic Literature

Najib Al-Kilani, One of the Authors of Modern Arabic Literature

Arwa Salih’s Gendered Critique

Abstract This article seeks to clarify the stakes of Arwa Salih’s critical methodology by reading her project—specifically, her development of Milan Kundera’s notion of kitsch, her analytic use of gender, and her formal and political concern with legacy and inheritance—alongside the literary history of iltizam. The article contends that Salih’s critical method and search for ethical knowledge frame iltizam as a form of militant kitsch that prized dogma and readymade answers over ethical and political curiosity. By reading Salih’s historical-political critique in terms of gendered literary symbolism and aesthetics, the article attempts to make clear the resonance of her analytic method in the field of modern Arabic literature—especially Egyptian literature—and to point out how literature and critique are implicated in the social and political changes that forged and solidified Egypt’s neoliberal era.

المصطلح النقدي للخاطرة في الأدب العربي

The study aimed to identify the critical term for literary thoughts, especially those mentioned in ancient and modern Arabic literature. Literary thoughts are considered one of the literary arts, in which the Arabs toured and wrote many thoughts that reflect the breadth of their culture and their knowledge of the various arts and various fields of knowledge. Literary thoughts are special forms of expression that convey our thoughts and feelings to others. These thoughts were an important tributary of Arabic thought as they reflected on several topics. The study used the descriptive analytical method. The results of the study revealed that the art of thoughts is intertwined with many literary arts, and deals with special topics that are evident in the resources of personal and emotional experience. The study also recommended conducting further research to develop creative skills of writing thoughts.

The Contemporary Significance of Gibran’s Literary Works

Abstract The Lebanese writer Gibran Khalil Gibran was one of the pioneers of modern Arab literature and the “standard-bearer, soul and leader” of the writers of the “Mehjar” literature who played an important role in the revival of Arabic literature. He is a world-renowned cultural celebrity who has had a great influence in both Arabia and the West. Based on the theory of literary interpretation, this paper explores the commonality between Gibran’s thought and contemporary social values, which are embodied in four aspects: ecological view, women’s emancipation thought, East-West relationship view, and human unity consciousness. Gibran’s ideas contain rich humanistic values that transcend their time, and the up-to-date interpretation to them will help us draw valuable insights from them and gain inspiration in the face of the many major challenges of the era of globalization.

Evidence of the influence of the Iliad on Arabic literature

This paper explores the influence of the Iliad text which composed during VIII century B.C on Arabic Literature by focusing on four main points, first: how the Arab poets knew the text of the Iliad and how they tried to borrow lines from it, especially during Abbasid era, secondly: what is the relationship between Iliad and the Arab folk biography, and also the relationship between Oral narration and improvisation on both literatures. Thirdly: the influence of the Iliad on the Concept of Arabic tournament appeared in Antara's character who mixed between love and courage in his poems. Finally: the influence of the Iliad on modern Arabic literature, by discussing the different evidence that modern poets took from the Iliad once by using opening dictions, expressions, myths, characters and so on.

Madzhabu Ar-Rumantikiyyah Fiil Adab Al-Arabi Al-Hadist ma’a al-Istimror wa At-Taghyir

PurposeThis study aims to explain the flow of romanticism along with the continuity and changes to con-temporary Arabic literature, and to be able to reveal dialogues about the flow of romanticism in modern Arabic literature, which is growing rapidly in the Arab world. Knowing the characteris-tics of Arabic literary Romanticism. Knowing the figures of Arabic Literary Romanticism. MethodThis study used a library research design and note-taking techniques. This research method uses aspects of library research with data sourcesof books and literacy related to romanticism in mod-ern Arabic literature: continuity and change. Results/FindingsThis study reveals the continuity and change as well as its influence on contemporary Arabic lit-erature, namely: 1) History of Arabic Literature in the modern era, 2) History of the Emergence of Western Romanticism in Arabic and its characteristics, 3) Development of Romanticism and its influence on Arabic Literature, 4) Figures of the Romanticism of Arabic Literature and their works. ConclusionRomanticism has had a major influence on Arabic literature, with the establishment of groups of Arabic literary, such as the Mahjar group, the Diwan school, the Apollo school and Usbah al-Asyrah. In addition, there is also a renewal of magazines and newspapers in the Arab world which call for renewal, and criticism of the previous flow (classicism).

The Egyptian Novelistic Prose of the 1950s and the Tendencies of its Development: a Comparative Analysis

The article investigates the common tendencies and the diversity of the Egyptian novelistic prose of the 1950s. We analyzed the following novels: The Earth (1954) by ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sharqawi, The Cairo Trilogy (1956–1957) by Naguib Mahfouz, The Sin (1959) by Yusuf Idris, The Open Door (1960) by Latifa al-Zayyat, and The Blue Flashlights (1960) by Mahmoud Teymour. Despite the fact that some of the most significant novels were written in the 1950s (The Trilogy, The Sin, and The Open Door are in the top-100 of the Arabic novels of the 20th century, Arab writers union, 2001), the researchers have been taking into account either the authors one by one, or the modern Arabic literature in general. We drew the attention to the national features and the close context in which these influential Egyptian novels were created. By comparing their plots, characters’ systems, style and language, narrative, and the conflicts of the pieces, we came to the following results: the realism in Egypt flourished in the 1950s; the socialist, critical, psychological branches of the realistic literature are represented. The writers’ interest was dedicated to the national liberation struggle. The prose of the decade is either urban or rustic. The difference between writers’ generation appears in the language of the dialogues (Standard Arabic or Egyptian dialect). In conclusion, the realism in Egypt had reached its mature stage in the 1950s, and during the decade, the tendencies appeared that had led to the rise of modernism in the 1960s.

Saudi drama: commencements, efforts, and progression (7)

Saudi literature in all its forms is of great importance in modern Arabic literature in terms of the abundance and quality of its literary production. Therefore, it is imperative for the academic researcher who lives on its land to rediscover creative texts in order to contribute to revealing and presenting the rightful place that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia deserves. The present study is an attempt to trace the growth and development of Saudi drama and theater and to explore the contribution of Fahad Al-Harithi as a great Saudi dramatist with special reference to his poetic absurd play "The Station Don't Leave" (المحطة لا تغادر). This paper makes an effort to shed light on the place of modern Saudi theater and drama in the world of literature. An analytical-critical method is used in the investigation. After a brief introduction to the concept of drama, the paper argues for Saudi drama, particularly poetic drama and the Theater of the Absurd. Then, an analysis of Fahad Al-Harithi as a pioneer Saudi playwright and his short poetic play as a modern play in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A brief debate, suggestions, and a conclusion bring the work to its conclusion.

تحوّل الخطاب السردي في الأدب العربي بعد هزيمة 67: قصّة تحت المظلة أنموذجا

This study began with the premise of recognizing the importance of narrative analysis that focuses on analyzing and critiquing a work of literature based not on its content, but rather on how its content is delivered. Therefore, this study first elaborates upon the concept of the narrative being its own independent research topic in the field of literature, as well as the serial processes and principles by which it can become its own standard in analyzing works of literature, and at the same time, examines in detail what the formative elements of a narrative are. In addition, this research identifies how, after defeat in the Third Arab-Israeli War in 1967, narrative discourse in modern Arab literature changed and developed in a form different from previous discourse; the research further analyzes the cause of these changes from internal and external perspectives. Furthermore, the researcher uses Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz’s short story Under the Canopy as an example to discuss the main characteristics of narrative discourse in Arab literature as newly formed after the War of 1967, and to analyze the hidden messages within this narrative technique.

‘Kudüs’ Adlı İki Şiirin Mukayesesi: Nizâr Kabbânî’nin Kaleminden Arapça ‘El-Kuds’ ve Else Lasker-Schüler’in Kaleminden Almanca ‘Jerusalem’

Nizâr b. Tevfik Kabbânî, modern Arap edebiyatının en meşhur şairleri arasındadır. Onun Arap edebiyatında böylesi büyük bir tanınırlık kazanmasının nedeni, daha ziyade Filistin’in sorunlarının dile getirilmesi hususunda son derece faal olmasıdır. Özellikle son bir asırdır, Filistin ile bu kutsal toprakların mukaddes kenti Kudüs’ün akıbeti, pek çok ulustan pek çok aydının zihnini meşgul etmektedir. Bu aydınlardan birisi de şiirlerini Almanca nazmeden Else Lasker-Schüler’dir. Tüm semavi dinler için kutsal bir kent olan Kudüs, hem Nizâr Kabbânî’nin hem de Else Lasker-Schüler’in şiirlerinde karşımıza çıkan bir motiftir. Söz konusu şairlere ait iki farklı şiir, aynı adı yani Kudüs ismini taşımaktadır. Nizâr Kabbânî’nin el-Kuds’ü ve Else Lasker-Schüler’in Jerusalem’ı, belirli açılardan birbirine benzemekte, bazı noktalarda da birbirinden ayrılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, biri Arapça diğeri Almanca olan söz konusu iki şiirin mukayeseli bir incelemesinin yapılması amaçlanmaktadır. Kabbânî’nin mezkûr şiiri, bu çalışmada edebî ve sanatsal bir tercümeden ziyade, mukayesenin daha doğru yapılabilmesi için kelimesi kelimesine tercüme edilmiştir. Benzer şekilde, Else Lasker-Schüler’in şiiri de aynı metotla Almancadan Türkçeye tam haliyle kelimesi kelimesine aktarılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın önemi, söz konusu şiirler arasında mukayeseli bir incelemenin yapılacak olmasıdır. Dolayısıyla bu çalışmanın kapsamı yalnızca mezkûr iki şiirin mukayesesiyle sınırlıdır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda bilimsel bir karşılaştırmanın yapılması planlanmaktadır.

Studies on Arabic Literature by Chinese Scholars: From Edge of China to the Center of Arab

Abstract Chinese scholars just began to study Arabic literature since Reform and Opening-up of China in 1979, though Arabic language began to be taught in Peking University since 1951. Chinese scholars’ studies on Arabic literature studies at that time were at the edge of studies of world literature. Articles on Arabic literature just issued on Arab World. It was still difficult for professors of Arabic literature to issue their articles at the journals such as Foreign Literature Review, Literature Abroad, Foreign Literature Studies, Foreign Literature and Contemporary Foreign Literature in 1980s. These journals preferred to issue papers on western literature and Russian literature during that period. In recent years, studies on Arabic literature developed rapidly in China. The Chinese intellectuals do not study on ancient Arabic literature only, but study on modern and contemporary Arabic literature also. They published books on Arabic literature such as On Arabian Nights: Mythology and Reality,Singing for Love: A Study on Kuwait Poetess Souad al-Sabah,Sufism in Modern Arabic Literature, Modern Arabic Literature During the Cultural Changes,Arabic Poetry in the Context of Globalization: A Study on Egyptian Poet Farouk Guweidah, and Comparative Study of Chinese and Arabic Literature. They also wrote histories of Arabic literature, for example, History of Arabic Literature, History of Modern Arabic Literature and General History of Arabic Literature are available in Chinese book market in these years. Professor Zhong Jikun won Appreciation Award of Egypt Ministry of Higher Education in 2005, won Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s Cultural Personality of the Year in 2011 and in the same year won King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Translation. These prizes and awards show us that studies on Arabic literature have moved from the edge of China to the center of Arab world.

Humanized Microhistory of Translation: The Case of Modern Arabic Literature in English Translation

Throughout history, translators have played a vital role as cultural agents in shaping the histories of different nations and cultures. Nevertheless, the translators’ role has been largely ignored in translation history research studies, which have often focused on the texts translated. Therefore, many scholars in translation history research (Adamo 2006; Munday 2014; Pym 2009) have argued for the importance of studying translators themselves. The present study draws on the method of microhistory and applies it to the Arabic translation tradition by analyzing the life, personal relationships, and statements of one of the leading translators of Modern Arabic Literature (MAL) into English, Denys Johnson-Davies (J-D). The paper explores and analyses J-D’s autobiography, interviews, and paratextual materials accompanying his translations in order to better understand how J-D’s experience as a translator and cultural agent can shed light on the bigger picture of MAL translation history. The data analysis reveals insights into the status of translation during the different periods of MAL translation history. This includes the publication of Arabic-translated literary works into English, the reception of MAL by the English readership, and the reception of translators and their work by Arab authors and governments during the different periods of the translation history of MAL. This study also confirms the argument that the study of translators is a valid, useful method for researching translation history. Keywords: Modern Arabic Literature, Translation Microhistory, Arabic Translation history, Denys Johnson-Davies, Humanizing translation history, Translator Studies