Journal of Arabic Language & Literature

Abstract "Time" has an important place in interpretive studies and Quranic sciences; "Time" with titles such as Maki Madani and the order of revelation, has always been at the forefront of interpretive discussions. The category of as Maki Madani actually refers to the Qur'anic time in the form of two general periods, and the order of revelation also examines the Qur'anic time in detail. Despite the importance of time, in the eyes of Qur'anic scholars and its obvious role in Qur'anic studies, research in Arabic-Qur'anic literature has not paid much attention to this issue, and this issue has caused them disruption and challenge.
Representation and re-reading of possible disruptions can persuade future researchers to pay attention to the category of time. This was the motivation that eventually led to the choice of this title. As two important fields of literary studies - Quranic - were extracted randomly and examined in terms of attention and lack of attention to the category of "time". It is worth mentioning that in the present study, meta-analysis and statistical methods have been used.
The results showed; In both fiction and thematic studies, a very low percentage of researchers have paid attention to the category of "time", which has led to shortcomings; The disadvantages observed in fiction studies are: ignoring the innovations of the Qur'anic story, disrupting the implementation of some analytical models, marginalizing the Qur'anic intentions and breaking the Qur'anic model in the analytical model. Thematic studies can also address these challenges: example mining instead of text mining and disruption in some analytical models.

Abstract Religious references form an essential component of the poet's consciousness, emerging clearly within their creative fabric.. The poet and historian Al-Sayyid Salman Hadi Al Tu'ma represents an outstanding model of the convergence of historical and literary references in contemporary Iraqi literature.This study seeks to explore and analyze the multiple religious references upon which the poet Salman Hadi Al Tu'ma drew in his poetic works, starting from the Hussaini heritage, passing through the 1920 Revolution, and culminating in the history of the city as an aesthetic and symbolic realm. By examining these references, we can gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between religion and poetry in Al Tu'ma's experience and how he employed these references to construct a contemporary and influential poetic text.The importance of studying his religious references stems from his quintessential identity as a native of the city of Karbala, where the religious dimension intertwines with revolutionary and social heritage into a single fabric. Al Tu'ma is considered one of the most prominent figures who shaped the Karbala identity through his prolific output, which navigates between traditional poetry and documentary studies, making him a cultural phenomenon worthy of analysis. The study relies on an analytical methodology that connects poetic texts with the poet's historical works, while highlighting the cultural influences and social context that produced them.

The researchers concluded that Salman Al Tu'ma was able to express his ideas and themes by employing religious references through both direct and indirect quotation. The poet's use of religious references was not limited to Al Tu'ma's religious inclination alone; he also employed those references to encourage the dissemination and protection of the knowledge of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), support his religious creed, and reinforce certain ethical values.

Abstract Literature has long served as a mirror of human society, reflecting the ongoing interaction and mutual influence. Therefore, the concepts, meanings, and sometimes the structures of a literary work undergo metamorphosis alongside societal changes. Given this dynamic interaction between society, culture, and literature and the knowledge it offers the researcher and reader about each period, it is necessary to examine the achievements of each literary period to understand its facets better. Abd al-Rahman Yusuf’s critical and protest-oriented works serve as a poignant case study in this regard. This research investigates the content of Yusuf’s poetry and his engagement with his contemporary world, moving beyond a purely descriptive approach to analyze the profound impact of the surrounding environment on his poems. The findings show that his society’s sociopolitical conditions deeply influence the poet. With a vigilant and empathetic mind, and by eschewing complex rhetoric or excessive poetic artifices, he directly critiques critical issues, including poverty, class conflict, the massacre of innocent people, the looting of national capital, rampant corruption within Egyptian society, systemic failures of the legal system, the torture and unjust imprisonment of citizens, as well as sectarianism and divisiveness. These concerns, which predominantly affect the lower classes, have significantly contributed to the popularity and resonance of his poetry. At times, the poet expresses the height of pain and suffering through profound mockery, ridicule, and scorn, ensuring that even the highest figures in the government system are not immune to his sharp, stinging tone. Ultimately, beyond criticizing society and describing its bitter realities, the poet seeks to uncover the root causes of these problems and cultivate a resilient, fighting spirit among the Egyptian people.

Abstract Feminist criticism, a 20th-century intellectual and cultural movement, has created a new branch of contemporary literary criticism called Gynocriticism, emphasizing gender equality and the representation of women's experiences. Since then, literary works have been analyzed through two major approaches: "Images of Women" and "Gynocriticism." Elaine Showalter, an American critic and theorist, developed a framework for analyzing women writers’ works based on four dimensions: biological, linguistic, psychoanalytical, and cultural. The research aims to clarify the position of women in patriarchal societies and the importance of the struggle to eliminate gender inequality. Based on Showalter's theory, this research uses a Gynocriticism to analyze the novel Adrakaha Al-Nisyan (Overtaken by Forgetfulness) by Sana Sha'lan, a contemporary Jordanian-Palestinian writer. This study explores the dimensions of women’s representation and femininity in this work. This study used a descriptive-analytical method. The results show that Shaalan recalls the female body as a cultural text, and through it, challenges the dominance of the patriarchal system. On a linguistic level, the author breaks the boundaries of male language by creating a feminine, emotional, and sometimes protesting language, giving women an independent voice by expressing silent experiences. On a psychoanalytic level, the narrative of the heroine's illness and forgetfulness is a metaphor for a woman's effort to escape from collective memory, repression, and rebuild her identity. On a cultural level, Shaalan also criticizes social and institutional structures, showing how society shapes women's bodies and minds within the framework of domination. Adrakha al-Nasyan reflects women's writing and women’s position in society, bringing women's voices from the margins into text through a multilayered narrative and opening a new horizon for a feminist reading of contemporary Arab literature.

Abstract Individualistic psychology in literary criticism aims to uncover characters’ underlying psychological structures by examining the origins of their fears, traumas, suppressed desires, and emotional responses. This method links the human psyche and the literary text, offering insight into a character’s motivations and inner conflicts. A key concept in individualistic psychology is the inferiority complex, coined by Alfred Adler, who argues that such feelings stem from early childhood frustrations and unmet needs. According to Adler, when individuals feel unrecognized or devalued, they may develop chronic anxiety about the future, often manifesting through compensatory mechanisms, either constructive or destructive. The novel Al-Ashya’ Laysat fi Amakiniha (Things are not in their places) by Huda Hamed offers a compelling narrative framework for exploring themes of racial discrimination, social domination, and the hidden wounds inflicted by cultural traditions and societal expectations. Based on Adler's theory, this study analyzes the inferiority complex in the novel’s three main characters: Amal, a victim of social inequality and whose compensation from studying leads to destructive relationships; Mohsen, a "discouraged child" resulting from parental domination who moves from isolation to emotional-caregiving compensation; and Mani, who creates an imaginary persona through distancing and faces its collapse. The research findings reveal that these compensations are often unstable and rather than healing psychological wounds, often perpetuate feelings of worthlessness, frustration, and passivity. Therefore, the narrative simultaneously represents individual traumas and mirrors social and family pressures that shapes the characters' psychological and identity crises.

Abstract In modern novels, space has evolved beyond a physical backdrop into an active element that shapes identity and narrative meaning. Drawing upon Gaston Bachelard's phenomenology of space, this research explores the role of space in Naguib Mahfouz’s novel, Khan al-Khalili. The core problem of the study is how narrative spaces, particularly the house, drawers, chests, corners, and the dialectics of inside and outside, represent and organize the characters' lived experiences, memory, and imagination. Utilizing a qualitative-analytical method based on a phenomenological reading, the study extracts descriptive spatial propositions from the novel’s text to analyze them. In this approach, space is viewed not as a background, but as a dynamic factor shaping the actions and inner worlds of the characters. Findings indicate that the house in Mahfouz’s novel serves as the focal point for memory and the psychological continuity of the characters. Elements such as drawers and chests act as physical and mental repositories for safeguarding secrets and hidden experiences. Corners provide opportunities for introspection and the reconstruction of internal experiences in the face of failure. At the same time, the dialectic of inside and outside illustrates how characters' experiences form at the boundary between mental sanctuary and social pressure. Ultimately, this research shows that space in this novel is a meaning-making mechanism that, through poetic spatialization, contributes to the development of character identity and the narrative’s phenomenological richness.

Abstract Individuation theory of Jung is about the human tendency to resolve the inconsistenciesin his psyche and reach a whole personality. Individuation begins with the human being’s voyage from consciousness to the unconscious. On this voyage, the individual takes off his Persona (the mask he shows of himself to the world) and sets foot in the unconscious realm. In the unconscious, he meets his Shadow (the dark side of himself), Anima (femininity in men), and Animus (masculinity in women), and through the recognition of dark, ambiguous, and clear sides of his psyche, he reaches a whole self. In this study, the story of Al-Ishtiaq il-Jarah, written by Habib Al-Salmi, is read using the theory of individuation and a descriptive-analytical method. The novel narrates Kamal Ashour’s life: He migrated from Tunisia to France in his youth and became a professor of mathematics at the university. Living, working, and marrying in France has created a logical, rigid, and static self-consciousness in his psyche.
His acquaintance with Zahra and her family (who are Tunisian, as he is) helps him escape from this powerful consciousness (French culture), recognize the hidden layers of his unconscious (Tunisian culture), and create a balance between the two in his inner self. First, he removes his mask, his social position as a university professor and the husband of a French lady, and assumes himself to be like other Tunisians. Then he confesses to the existence of the shadow (the unpleasant features of Tunisian culture that he has always hidden) in himself and, after much struggle, realizes that a part of the personality of Mansour (Zahra's violent, sloppy, and uninhibited husband, who is considered a symbol of the shadow) is in himself. Then, in the form of a wise and charming anima character, Zahra shows him the desirable characteristics of Tunisian culture, such as kindness, dynamism, and joy. At the end of this process, Ashour is completely reconciled with his original culture and achieves a unified identity.
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Abstract This study examines the phenomenon of alienation in the poetry of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi through the analytical framework of sociologist Anthony Davids, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology. Alienation, a pervasive psychological and social condition in modern life, reflects the growing disconnection between individuals and their societies, and literature serves as a faithful mirror of this crisis. Davids’ approach identifies five axes of alienation, all of which are traced in Al-Gosaibi’s poetic corpus, though with varying intensity and frequency. The analysis reveals that egotism permeates Al-Gosaibi’s work, marked by self-withdrawal, meticulous narration of personal daily details, emotional detachment, and the use of obscure language that signals unfulfillment and a fractured self, increasingly distanced from communal cultural norms. Pessimism dominates his dark, bleak imagery, employing themes of lost satisfaction and frustrated desires to articulate the suffering of the Arab individual. His poems also express anxiety from a deeply personal perspective, rendering subjective inner experiences with honesty and emotional depth. Recurrent discontent is intertwined with persistent questions of both personal and collective identity, reflecting the cultural, political, and social marginalization that shattered the poet’s sense of self and undermined his belonging. The research concludes that Al-Gosaibi’s poetry embodies all five dimensions of Davids’ model, offering a poignant artistic testimony to modern alienation. His verse not only documents individual psychic fragmentation but also critiques broader societal structures that engender estrangement. Ultimately, this study underscores the relevance of sociological frameworks in literary analysis and affirms poetry’s power to give voice to existential and societal crises in the contemporary Arab world.

Abstract In recent decades, narrative studies have undergone a significant transformation, shifting focus from "what is said" to "how it is said." Within this paradigm, narrative techniques have emerged as crucial mechanisms for meaning production, attaining a status equal to that of classic story elements. In this context, Shakir al-Anbari's novel "Najmat al-Bataween" is not merely a report on Baghdad society during a period of crisis but rather a deliberate example of novelistic architecture amidst social turmoil. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on direct evidence from the Arabic text, emphasizes the need to carefully examine narrative techniques to understand how structure and form shape the work’s social and ethical message. The primary objective of this study is to explore the narrative techniques employed in "Najmat al-Bataween" to clarify their role in the novel's structural coherence, its ethical-aesthetic impact, and, ultimately, its representation of the social crisis in Iraq. Initially, the concept of "technique" in narrative is elucidated, then the novel's storytelling techniques are examined with concrete textual evidence. The results of this research show that Najma al-Bataween’s novel is built on a network of synergistic narrative techniques. The repetition of motifs interlinks disparate sections of the story, fostering structural integrity. On the other hand, the fusion of art and reality presents complex psychological, social, and historical concepts in a multi-layered and metaphorical manner. Literary games, while preserving the work's critical tone, cultivate an aesthetic awareness of the social tragedy, elevating the novel from mere representation to a platform for ethical reflection. Characterization also enhances the narrative's believability and psychological depth, shaping the interaction between setting, identity, and action. Consequently, "Najmat al-Bataween" stands as a prominent example of a contemporary technical novel, effectively bridging artistic form with the representation of social reality.

Abstract Narrative time is one of the most important structural components of narrative, playing an active role in producing meaning and representing historical experience. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s narratological theory, the present study investigates the function of narrative time in representing collective memory in the novels of Abd al-Salam al-Ujayli, with particular emphasis on the two components of order and duration. The study aims to show how the manipulation of the narrative temporal structure, beyond its formal function, contributes to the reconstruction of historical memory and the collective lived experience of society. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on qualitative textual analysis. Within this framework, the components of narrative time are identified and examined based on Genette’s theoretical categories and by extracting indicative examples of breaks in narrative order (analepsis and prolepsis), as well as transformations in narrative duration (deceleration and acceleration), which are analyzed in terms of their semantic and historical functions.The findings show that the organization of narrative time in al-Ujayli’s novels, through the predominance of analepsis and the uneven distribution of narrative duration, serves to represent the historical experience and the formation of collective memory. The characters’ recurrent returns to memories associated with events such as the October War, the construction of the Euphrates Dam, and the experience of Arab unity turn the past into an active element in the interpretation of the present. In addition, descriptive pauses, dialogue scenes, especially those that connect individual experience to broader social and historical contexts, and the techniques of summary and ellipsis contribute to a selective foregrounding of certain moments in contemporary Syrian history, such as the consequences of the collapse of Arab unity and the displacement of peasants following large-scale developmental projects, while downplaying others. As a result, collective memory in these novels is represented as a fragmented and continually reinterpretable experience.

Abstract Literature is an important context for the study of geography, especially in the tradition of humanistic cultural geography, because feelings of belonging, distance, migration, and return are all spatial experiences that are embodied in literary narratives. Travelogues, memoirs of migration, and novels of place are prominent examples of the connection between space and culture; works in which place is not a neutral background, but an active factor in shaping human experience. Meanwhile, contemporary urban novels show space beyond a purely narrative background and transform it into an active element in shaping meaning, lived experience, and emotion. Contemporary urban novels portray space as more than a merely narrative backdrop; rather, they transform it into an active element in the construction of meaning, lived experience, and emotion. The novel Matar ‘Ala Baghdad by the Egyptian journalist and novelist Hala al-Badri represents a prominent example of the modern Arabic urban novel, in which Baghdad is depicted as a multilayered network of spatial environments.This study employs a descriptive-analytical method grounded in the humanistic cultural geography approach and informed by Joël Bonnemasion’s spatial framework to examine three interconnected levels of space: objective space, lived space, and cultural-symbolic space. These spatial dimensions are explored through the major urban settings of Baghdad as represented in the narrative. The analysis first addresses Baghdad as a city of civilization and cultural memory, then investigates its old streets, and finally examines its markets and cafés as key public spaces shaping urban experience. The findings reveal that al-Badri consciously foregrounds public urban spaces- particularly streets and markets- to articulate their physical, experiential, and symbolic dimensions, thereby transforming objective spaces into lived places imbued with cultural meaning. However, some spaces, notably cafés, display limited spatial construction even at the objective level and fail to achieve a fully developed presence within the narrative. Overall, the study demonstrates that through its multilayered spatial representation, the novel highlights the crucial role of public spaces in the production of meaning, collective memory, and urban identity within contemporary Arabic fiction.
 
 
 

Abstract Imagology constitutes a significant subfield of comparative literature that investigates the representation of one nation or culture within the literary discourse of another. Travelogues, in particular, provide a rich source for imagological inquiry due to their inclusion of diverse and multifaceted cultural images. A notable example in Arabic literature is Ibn Hawqal’s Surat al-Ard, which offers detailed depictions of various regions of Iran during the fourth century AH (tenth century CE). This study analyzes and evaluates the positive and negative images of Iranian society constructed in Surat al-Ard, with particular attention to cultural and social indicators. Adopting a content analysis approach, the research identifies and categorizes cultural concepts embedded in the text. These images are subsequently classified as positive or negative according to linguistic markers and broader textual context. Statistical analysis is then employed to determine the frequency of each cultural category and to examine the underlying factors shaping their representation. The findings reveal that the most prominent positive cultural images are associated with the regions of Fars, Transoxiana, Jibal, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Arran, Kerman and Sistan, Daylam and Tabaristan, Khorasan, and Khuzestan. Overall, 90% of the images are positive and 10% negative, reflecting Ibn Hawqal’s predominantly favorable perspective toward Iranian culture and society in the fourth century AH. This positive orientation can be attributed to the cultural and societal affinities between Iranian society and Ibn Hawqal’s conception of an ideal society, as well as his comparative evaluation of Iranians in relation to other ethnic groups. Certain positive images also derive from inherited or stereotypical representations adopted from earlier sources. The most salient socio-cultural images in the text pertain to ethnic traits, moral characteristics, social structures, rituals, beliefs, language, clothing, and cultural figures.
 

Abstract In the social criticism of narrative works, the literary text is regarded as a site for the representation and reproduction of power relations, class structures, ideologies, and collective actions. In this context, Claude Duchet’s theory, through its focus on textual structure, extracts social dynamics embedded within the narrative and uncovers sociological behaviors and patterns at the core of the literary work. In his novel Umm Sa‘d (1969), Ghassan Kanafani, as a committed writer drawing upon his lived experience of occupation and exile as well as an ideological perspective, constructs a symbolic figure of the Palestinian mother, whose suffering, resilience, and political consciousness emerge within the hardships of the camp. Through a polyphonic and multi-layered narrative structure, the novel establishes a dialectical relationship between literary form and socio-political conditions, with character development and plot progression advancing in parallel with the gradual process of societal consciousness-raising. By virtue of this reciprocal interaction between text and society, Kanafani provides a realistic and critical representation of Palestinian resistance, transforming literature into a vehicle for exposing structural oppression and consolidating collective identity under occupation.The present study employs a qualitative descriptive-analytical method grounded in Claude Duchet’s theory, specifically its three components: socio-text, referential society, and sociogram. Bibliographic data from the entire novel Umm Sa‘d were extracted through systematic reading and subsequently analyzed according to the three indicators of Duchet’s theory. The results indicate that the referential society (occupation, displacement, and repression in Palestine) receives an ideological representation within the socio-text, which is organized around resistance—manifested through motherhood, sacrifice, suffering, and hope—while the sociogram objectifies this dialectical link. Therefore, resistance in the novel Umm Sa‘d constitutes a socio-cultural and historical structure rather than an individual or emotional act.
 
 

Abstract The sociology of literature, an interdisciplinary field, aims to offer social criticism of literary works and illuminate the dynamic relationship between literature and society. A core concept within this critical approach is the notion of worldview, particularly as embodied by the ‘problematic hero’ in the novel, a concept initially introduced by Hungarian critic Georg Lukács. Lucien Goldmann expanded upon Lukács’ ideas, integrating them into his critical analyses and developing his theory of genetic structuralism. Muhammad al-‘Arusi al-Matwi’s contemporary Tunisian novel, Al-Tūt al-Murr, is recognized as a social novel that scrutinizes specific societal issues in Tunisia during the colonial era. This study seeks to provide a sociological critique of Al-Tūt al-Murr using a descriptive-analytical method based on Lucien Goldmann’s genetic structuralism, as sociological criticism is vital for understanding Tunisian society. The worldview of the novel’s problematic hero, Abdullah, is evident in his protest against prevailing conditions and his resistance to colonialism, demonstrated through his efforts to eliminate drug consumption in his village. These efforts include confronting the societal culture of submission and compromise, attempting to transform existing conditions, raising awareness among the youth, and establishing a purposeful group called the ‘Association for the Rescue of Youth’ (Jam‘iyyat Inqādh al-Shabāb). The findings suggest that while the hero achieves partial success, his loss of consciousness at the story’s conclusion and the author’s deliberate omission of his ultimate fate can be interpreted as symbolizing the hero’s inability to fully realize his goals
 
 

Abstract Misogyny is a belief or attitude rooted in deep social, cultural, and historical biases against women. Across history, it has been sustained through various forms of discrimination, violence, and subjugation, influencing not only social life but also cultural production, literature, and even legal and economic structures. As a form of inequality, misogyny requires careful analysis to clarify its social and cultural dimensions. Given the novel’s capacity to reflect social realities, fiction provides a suitable context for examining misogyny and its effects on attitudes and behaviors. One work particularly apt for such an inquiry is Ihsan Abdel Quddous’s The Black Glasses, which is set in traditional Egyptian society and offers a nuanced portrayal of women’s status and the ways characters and society perceive women. This study aims to analyze the effects of misogyny on culture, society, and human relations, and to elucidate the formation of related attitudes and behaviors. Using a descriptive–analytical method, the authors examine the selected novel to identify and analyze manifestations of soft misogyny. The findings indicate that Abdel Quddous employs elements of soft misogyny to depict behaviors harmful to women and, by creating psychological and social tensions, presents a realistic portrait of women’s situation in Egyptian society—women subjected to male dominance and constrained by cultural and social limitations.

Abstract The image of love constitutes one of the fundamental concerns of both literature and psychology, as it represents a creative force and a core element of human existence. In the poetic world of the prominent Iraqi poet Abdul-Wahhab Al-Bayati, love is perceived not merely as a personal emotion but as an existential, human, and mystical experience that embodies the essence of human liberation. Adopting a mythological-critical approach and a descriptive–analytical method, this study examines the manifestations of love in Al-Bayati’s poetry through the Jungian psychological concepts of persona and shadow. The research demonstrates that love in Al-Bayati’s poetic universe follows an evolutionary trajectory in which the poet moves beyond social and mythological masks, confronts his inner shadow, and ultimately attains existential transformation, resurrection, and a sense of immortality. From this perspective, love functions as a path toward self-discovery, engagement with the unconscious, and the realization of existential wholeness. Moreover, love in Al-Bayati’s poetry transcends historical, political, mythological, and experiential contexts—such as travel and exile—and emerges as a constructive and regenerative force capable of cultural and historical renewal arising from suffering, destruction, and darkness.

Abstract A prominent trend in literary criticism involves the application of an integrated socio-psychological approach. This framework encompasses theories dedicated to the evaluation of fictional characters, their motivations, and their individual and social conduct. Erving Goffman’s stigma theory exemplifies such a theoretical lens, offering a valuable tool for analyzing the behavior and actions of individuals marked by stigma. Stigma is the act of attaching undesirable labels to an individual by others which leads to the individual’s isolation and rejection by society. One of the most stigmatizer events that can lead to social disgrace is divorce. Therefore, in this article, we selected a short story titled ‘Divorce Papers’, written by the Syrian writer Walidah Eto. This study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, grounded in Erving Goffman’s stigma theory, to examine the ramifications of divorce-related stigma on the stigmatized character and to identify the contributing factors to its formation. The research holds significance by, firstly, introducing readers to the short fiction of a Syrian writer whose work prominently addresses the social and cultural issues confronting women. Secondly, it seeks to illuminate the social standing of divorced women and the psychological burdens stemming from the stigma of divorce within Syrian society, framed through the theoretical construct of Goffman's work. Through an examination of the characters within this narrative, it is determined that social isolation and diminished self-esteem represent salient manifestations of stigma in the protagonist. Maher’s mother, embodying the role of a stigmatizer, is depicted as a product of society's traditional perceptions of divorced women, ensnared within a rigid cultural paradigm. The assertion of ‘otherness’—the notion of ‘we are different from them’—functions as an additional stigmatizing mechanism employed by Maher's mother against the protagonist. In contrast, Maher assumes a supportive role, utilizing strategies such as ‘comparison’ and ‘cognitive-behavioral intervention’ to mitigate stigma and influence the stigmatizer’s perspective.
 
 

Abstract Cultural criticism, as a contemporary critical approach, seeks to analyze and deconstruct literary discourse, uncovering its deep semantic layers shaped by evolving social and cultural contexts. Its significance lies in its capacity to read texts as cultural acts rather than mere aesthetic constructs. Consequently, studying the representation of women is fundamental to understanding shifts in the collective unconscious. Given the scarcity of systematic, culturally-oriented studies on the image of women in contemporary Iraqi poetry, this research addresses this critical deficiency. This study aims to analyze the image of woman in Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetry, specifically within the maternal and romantic spheres. It seeks to unveil the underlying cultural layers in these representations and elucidate their role in shaping poetic meaning and directing audience reception. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, this research delves into the manifest and latent aspects of Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetic discourse, utilizing the concepts and tools of cultural criticism. Findings indicate a pivotal presence of the female image in Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetry, where woman transcends marginalization to become a symbolic space reflecting the collective value system, identity, and memory. This image manifests in two prominent archetypes: the ‘Mother’, symbolizing security and stability, and the ‘Beloved’, embodying the horizon of desire and emotional pursuit. The results demonstrate that the poet, through conscious artistic and cultural engagement, utilizes the image of woman as a vehicle to express the relationship between the 'self' and its surrounding social milieu. This imbues the poetic text with semantic and aesthetic dimensions beyond mere description, guiding it towards the construction of a deeper, more comprehensive cultural landscape. Furthermore, this analysis evaluates the position of women within the symbolic structure of the text, underscores the significance of poetry as a site for the production of cultural meaning, and opens avenues for future research in contemporary Iraqi poetry. Such research, viewed through the lens of modern cultural criticism open to diverse theoretical and interpretive approaches, promises valuable insights.
 
 

Abstract Cultural criticism, as a contemporary critical approach, seeks to analyze and deconstruct literary discourse, uncovering its deep semantic layers shaped by evolving social and cultural contexts. Its significance lies in its capacity to read texts as cultural acts rather than mere aesthetic constructs. Consequently, studying the representation of women is fundamental to understanding shifts in the collective unconscious. Given the scarcity of systematic, culturally-oriented studies on the image of women in contemporary Iraqi poetry, this research addresses this critical deficiency. This study aims to analyze the image of woman in Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetry, specifically within the maternal and romantic spheres. It seeks to unveil the underlying cultural layers in these representations and elucidate their role in shaping poetic meaning and directing audience reception. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, this research delves into the manifest and latent aspects of Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetic discourse, utilizing the concepts and tools of cultural criticism. Findings indicate a pivotal presence of the female image in Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetry, where woman transcends marginalization to become a symbolic space reflecting the collective value system, identity, and memory. This image manifests in two prominent archetypes: the ‘Mother’, symbolizing security and stability, and the ‘Beloved’, embodying the horizon of desire and emotional pursuit. The results demonstrate that the poet, through conscious artistic and cultural engagement, utilizes the image of woman as a vehicle to express the relationship between the 'self' and its surrounding social milieu. This imbues the poetic text with semantic and aesthetic dimensions beyond mere description, guiding it towards the construction of a deeper, more comprehensive cultural landscape. Furthermore, this analysis evaluates the position of women within the symbolic structure of the text, underscores the significance of poetry as a site for the production of cultural meaning, and opens avenues for future research in contemporary Iraqi poetry. Such research, viewed through the lens of modern cultural criticism open to diverse theoretical and interpretive approaches, promises valuable insights.
 
 

Abstract Cultural criticism is one of the most important stages of critical development due to its role in directing thought towards the issues and challenges that humanity has faced at the heart of modern developments, with literature being no exception. The theory of cultural patterns seeks to explore the relationship between the ingrained, underlying patterns in human culture and literature. This is one of the most important branches of literary criticism in Arab culture, a field to which Abdullah Al-Ghadhami has directed attention.Abdul Rahman Munif's Quintet Cities of Salt is one of the most significant Arabic literary works that provides a depiction of the dialectical relationship between the Arab world and the West. This literary work addresses important cultural and social issues that cannot be fully explored except through the lens of cultural criticism.This article attempts to explore the controversial Western cultural patterns in Cities of Salt and how they interact with the Arab cultural patterns. The researchers examine the stance of Arab characters and their patterns regarding the cultural traits of the Other, using a descriptive-analytical approach based on critical cultural analysis and the general framework of Abdullah Al-Ghadhami's theory of cultural patterns.The importance of studying Cities of Salt from this perspective lies in the Arab-Western confrontation that shapes the plot of the novel, presenting a rooted opposition and conflict in reality, and addressing the crises and struggles faced by Arab countries in their interaction with the Other.This study aims to uncover the most influential and controversial Western cultural patterns from the Arab perspective, as well as to illustrate how Arab characters and their cultural patterns react to those of the Other. One part of the findings reveals that the Western technological pattern confronts the implicit mythological Arab pattern, while the Western modern social pattern meets the Bedouin pattern. These are among the most controversial Western cultural patterns, as the technological patterns of the West are interpreted through the lens of Arab mythological patterns, highlighting the significant role of mythological patterns in Arab culture. Furthermore, the Bedouin patterns attempt to interpret the Western modern social patterns.Additionally, the Arab view of the Western Other is not one of exploratory curiosity but rather a reflection of Arab characters' efforts to interpret Western patterns, driven by a desire to protect their own underlying cultural patterns and preserve their integrity in the face of the Other.

Abstract Critical discourse analysis is a systematic theory developed by Norman Fairclough that is highly effective for analyzing works closely linked with the social and political conditions of society. This type of analysis is also crucial for accurately portraying what is happening in society. The theory investigates the work on three levels: description, interpretation, and explanation. In the first level, the theory examines the vocabulary used in the work, while in the interpretation level, it focuses on the discourse conduct and effects of common or hegemonic discourses. In the explanation level, the theory reflects on social behaviors and how social issues are represented in the work. Shahad al-Rawi, a young and novice Iraqi author, wrote two significant works in the second decade of the 21st century. His primary work, "The Baghdad Clock," received praise from critics and readers alike. This study utilizes descriptive-analytical methods to connect the novel with present-day social and political issues in Iraq, particularly focusing on war and occupation stories from past decades. The study aims to provide a critical discourse analysis of the novel to explore how social conditions and socially-produced discourses influence agency. The paper seeks to investigate how war and occupation are portrayed in relation to emigration as a perceived opportunity for educated Iraqi citizens despite their love for their homeland. Exploring discourses within a work is socially and literally critical, thus this paper delves into analyzing "The Baghdad Clock." Findings suggest that the author incorporates formal elements reflecting social conditions impacted by war, occupation, embargoes, etc. Additionally, the study aims to elucidate and normalize emigration discourse as a preferred narrative shaped by societal agents.

Abstract In the present study, identity has been examined in two Arabic and Persian young adult novels based on Erik Erikson''s theory of psychosocial development. According to this theory, adolescence is the fifth stage of development, and the primary challenge of this stage is the identity crisis, although not in its critical sense. The two novels studied are "Faten" by Lebanese writer Fatima Sharafeddin and "Hasti" by Iranian writer Farhad Hassanzadeh. "Faten" is set during the Lebanese civil war, while "Hasti" takes place at the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war, with young girls as the main characters in both stories. Sharafeddin''s young adult novels primarily focus on analyzing and critiquing the social situation in Lebanon, while Hassanzadeh''s approach in young adult novels is to empower and inform girls. This study highlights the significance of the adolescent stage and stresses the importance of establishing a successful identity during this period, pointing out literary researchers'' neglect of this stage. Therefore, this study aims to explore these two literary works using Erikson''s theory, a descriptive-analytical method, and a comparative literature approach.The research findings indicate that characteristics of adolescence in both novels can be categorized into three groups based on Erikson''s theory: Identity crisis; Identity-seeking, which includes identification, societal support, adolescents'' resistance to adult value systems, and love during adolescence; and Fidelity. By examining the role of identity and challenges faced by adolescents in these novels, it can be concluded that their main objective is to encourage young readers to develop a successful identity through education, learning, and interacting with knowledgeable individuals.

Abstract Poetic beginnings are a starting point for entering the text and are considered one of the most important elements in poetry, forming the cornerstone for the structure of the poem. Since the early literary era, preludes have held significant importance for Arab poets, especially in the pre-Islamic period, with poetry's preludes often based on standing upon ruins and lyrics. In the Abbasid era, preludes and lyrics continued to be important. In contemporary Arabic poetry, however, the beginnings have evolved according to the ideas of poets. The introduction of the four seasons of the year in contemporary poetry is, therefore, a prominent phenomenon.
Badr Shākir al-Sayyab is a poet deeply influenced by the nature of his surroundings. He draws inspiration from palm trees, rivers, springs, plains, gardens, and the four seasons, expressing these elements indefinitely in his poetry. The poet has a season that begins in harmony with his spirit. This study aims to explore how the poet begins each of his poems with a reference to a season or an element of nature. This research is based on a descriptive-analytical method, and it will analyze the poetic beginnings in al-Sayyab’s "Flowers and Myths", examining how the poet employs these beginnings and their connection to the poet’s moods.One of the most important results of this study is that most of the motifs in "Flowers and Myths" begin with direct or indirect seasonal preludes, and these preludes are fully contextualized within the themes of the poems. It is found that the seasons in the poems are appropriate to both natural and spiritual implications, serving as a symbolic code pointing to the underlying meanings of the text.

Abstract Literary art, one of the seven fine arts, has long been isolated from artistic criticism. While literary aesthetics traditionally focused on identifying rhetoric, this approach alone falls short in analyzing literary aesthetics comprehensively. The Gestalt theory, effective in critiquing various art forms, faces challenges when applied to literature despite its success in visual arts. To address this gap, we developed a method based on the Gestalt Audio-Visual theory, marking a pioneering step in literary aesthetics. This innovative approach draws from foundational fine arts principles to partially overcome rhetorical limitations and enhance understanding of textual context. Applicable across languages and literary genres, this method was tested through 30 prayer examples. We detailed the theory's inception, application process, and benefits in rectifying rhetorical flaws within text aesthetics. Fine arts concepts like Contrast, Perspective, and Optical Illusion were integrated into literary analysis to enrich interpretation alongside rhetoric. This groundbreaking theory has the potential to revolutionize literary artistry significantly.

Abstract Since cognitive learning approaches—including Vygotsky’s social learning theory—support the development of critical thinking skills, applying the methodological foundations of these approaches can help institutionalize such skills in contemporary human life. This research examines the children's stories of Taghreed Al-Najjar, a contemporary Jordanian writer, analyzing the actions, performances, and dialogues of the characters through a descriptive method based on Facione’s six critical thinking skills models. Additionally, it explores how these skills can be taught using the principle of scaffolding, emphasizing the facilitating role of adults and more skilled peers within the child’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). The findings reveal that Taghreed Al-Najjar simplifies the cognitive complexities of critical thinking by applying social learning theory in her children's stories. Depending on the audience’s age group, self-regulation and interpretation skills rank first and second in priority, serving to enhance cognition, identity formation, character development, awareness, and knowledge generation in children. Furthermore, the skills of inference, analysis, evaluation, and explanation—supported by both emotional and cognitive educational strategies—have been central to the author’s objectives, ultimately contributing to a new perspective on the pedagogical potential of fictional texts. The study also highlights that, from Taghreed Al-Najjar’s perspective, language and culture serve as vital tools for advancing children’s cognitive development and mental structuring.