Najmat al-Batawin: The Architecture of Narrative amid Social Crisis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

vajihe najafi ¹

yahya maerof ¹

shahriar hemati ²

majid mohamadi ²

¹ Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

² Professor of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature, ، Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University ، Kermanshah , Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jall.2026.95922.1596

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.

Keywords

narratology

narrative techniques

Shakir al-Anbari

Najmat al-Batawin

Subjects

• Literary Criticism

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