research article
Somayeh Big Ghalejoghy; Sayyed Hosain Sayyedi
Abstract
The concept of literariness and its components remains one of the most contentious issues in literary criticism, as critics and scholars have yet to establish a definitive and precise definition. Among the few theorists who have proposed innovative perspectives on literariness is Adonis, a prominent ...
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The concept of literariness and its components remains one of the most contentious issues in literary criticism, as critics and scholars have yet to establish a definitive and precise definition. Among the few theorists who have proposed innovative perspectives on literariness is Adonis, a prominent Arab critic and literary theorist. His views extend beyond the narrow confines of poetic definition, entering the broader domain of literary theory. In this article, we employ a descriptive-analytical approach to examine literariness and its components from Adonis’s perspective. The necessity of such research lies in uncovering Adonis’s unique stance on literariness, which not only facilitates a deeper understanding of his poetic theory but also underscores his distinctive position as a literary theorist. Accordingly, this study aims to elucidate Adonis’s conception of literariness. To achieve this, we first outline the general understanding of literariness and its key components based on the perspectives of both Arab and Western critics. We then compare these foundational views with Adonis’s literary theories to derive his distinctive insights on the subject. The findings reveal that Adonis equates poetry with literariness in his theoretical framework. Like other Arab and Western critics, he employs literariness as a lens for evaluating the aesthetic dimensions of a text. Furthermore, Adonis posits that the stage of writing serves as a bridge between the initial (oral) phase and the third stage (literary modernity). In his view, poetry at this juncture evolves into an open structure, accommodating diverse interpretations
Original Article
Semantics
Elham Baboli Bahmeh; Seyyed Mohammad Razi Mostafavinia
Abstract
Adopting a poetic approach as a theoretical framework for analyzing and reinterpreting poetry can significantly enhance our understanding of the epistemological dimensions within a poet's work. The application of Gaston Bachelard's The Poetics of Space (1962), which examines lived spaces through a phenomenological ...
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Adopting a poetic approach as a theoretical framework for analyzing and reinterpreting poetry can significantly enhance our understanding of the epistemological dimensions within a poet's work. The application of Gaston Bachelard's The Poetics of Space (1962), which examines lived spaces through a phenomenological lens, offers particularly valuable insights. This study employs Bachelard's framework to analyze Diwan Mustafa Jamal al-Din (1996) as a case study. The research presents a comprehensive overview of Bachelard's The Poetics of Space, focusing on spatial phenomena and their manifestations in selected poetic samples. Utilizing a qualitative approach and descriptive methodology, the study treats Bachelard's key concepts—including place, space, spatial exploration, and topophilia (place-friendliness)—as practical analytical tools rather than merely theoretical constructs. Special attention is given to space, home, and their imaginative representations as crucial elements in examining poetic imagery. Key findings reveal that spatial awareness in Jamal al-Din's poetry plays a vital role in uncovering the poet's psychological landscape. His treatment of space carries existential, sensory, and emotional dimensions, effectively constituting a poetic representation of dwelling. Furthermore, space emerges as both a sanctuary for imagination and a mental refuge, reflecting the poet's engagement with the world. The spatial element maintains profound connections with his imaginative universe.More broadly, space in Jamal al-Din's poetry functions as an ontological concept that mediates between microcosmic and macrocosmic perspectives. The study also demonstrates the successful application of Bachelard's framework, particularly through the concept of topophilia, while highlighting the interpretive power of this phenomenological approach in literary analysis.
research article
Literary Criticism
azadeh ghaderi; ali asghar yari estahbanati
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 ...
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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.
research article
Semantics
Ramazan Rezaei; Zahra Nasri; Mohamad reza Eslami
Abstract
The magic of proximity stands as one of the most significant elements in analyzing the musical structure of poetry, attracting considerable scholarly attention through its paradigmatic and syntagmatic dimensions. This phenomenon refers to the presence of specific phonetic and rhythmic balances within ...
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The magic of proximity stands as one of the most significant elements in analyzing the musical structure of poetry, attracting considerable scholarly attention through its paradigmatic and syntagmatic dimensions. This phenomenon refers to the presence of specific phonetic and rhythmic balances within a poetic text. Both paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations represent crucial analytical tools in formalist criticism and semantic studies.A paradigmatic relationship denotes the connection between interchangeable linguistic units at the same structural level, while syntagmatic relations examine how words interact sequentially with their immediate context. The musical harmony between words, independent of their semantic value, often determines their proximate placement. These two axes serve as fundamental methods for identifying characteristics of artistic style in literary works.This research employs a descriptive-analytical approach to examine how the magic of proximity contributes to meaning creation and musicality in Ahmad Muharram's epic *Majd al-Islam*. The study's significance lies in elucidating the techniques that generate meaning, harmony, and musicality in Muharram's poetry, while revealing the stylistic and aesthetic qualities of this Islamic epic.The findings demonstrate that paradigmatic and syntagmatic relationships foster narrative coherence and semantic unity throughout *Majd al-Islam*. Muharram's strategic lexical combinations establish the work's distinctive stylistic framework. The skillful deployment of literary devices alongside phonetic features creates remarkable harmony and produces a unique musical quality that amplifies the text's conceptual emphasis.The epic's meticulous word selection particularly engages readers with Muharram's verse. When vocabulary is employed with precise intentionality, it generates both intellectual appeal and aesthetic pleasure. The resulting musicality elevates the discourse, transforming speech into an art form of noble expression. This linguistic craftsmanship explains the enduring appeal of *Majd al-Islam* among its audience.
Original Article
Linguistics
Bahar Seddighi
Abstract
The relationship between a text and other texts—whether in reading, description, criticism, or the analysis of literary and artistic works—has been explored by thinkers and scholars such as Julia Kristeva, Roland Barthes, Michael Riffaterre, and Gérard Genette. Among them, Gérard ...
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The relationship between a text and other texts—whether in reading, description, criticism, or the analysis of literary and artistic works—has been explored by thinkers and scholars such as Julia Kristeva, Roland Barthes, Michael Riffaterre, and Gérard Genette. Among them, Gérard Genette, the French theorist and critic, has examined transtextuality in a more systematic and comprehensive manner. The motivation behind this study stems from the relative obscurity of Abdul Karim Kassad—a contemporary Arabic writer—along with his thoughts, poetry, and particularly his threshold texts, which have received little attention in existing research and critical works. In this article, the author applies Gérard Genette’s theory of transtextuality—with a focus on paratextuality and intertextuality—to analyze Kassad’s textual thresholds, particularly in his work Old Ponds, Lost Paradise. The findings of this research reveal two key points: 1. The paratexts in Kassad’s work—including the front and back cover designs, title thresholds, subtitles, birth certificate pages, and introductory sections—are predominantly authorial paratexts (originating from the writer himself) rather than publisher paratexts or those contributed by others. 2. Among the three types of intertextuality in Genette’s framework, two—explicit and implicit intertextuality—can be identified and analyzed in Kassad’s
Original Article
Literary Criticism
Hasan Esmailzade Bavani; Abdolmobin Suri
Abstract
Many scholars have explored the concept of love throughout history, but one of its earliest and most profound analysts was Ibn Hazm, the Andalusian writer, jurist, and philosopher. A polymath well-versed in all the sciences of his time, Ibn Hazm addressed the subject of love in his book Tawq al-Hamama ...
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Many scholars have explored the concept of love throughout history, but one of its earliest and most profound analysts was Ibn Hazm, the Andalusian writer, jurist, and philosopher. A polymath well-versed in all the sciences of his time, Ibn Hazm addressed the subject of love in his book Tawq al-Hamama (The Ring of the Dove) with unprecedented psychological insight. He structured his work into thirty chapters, each meticulously titled and analyzed, offering a comprehensive examination of love’s various dimensions. Centuries later, psychologist Robert Sternberg, former president of the American Psychological Association, proposed his Triangular Theory of Love, defining love as an interplay of three core components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. The dynamic relationship between these elements gives rise to different forms of love. Despite the richness of Arabic literary discourse on the psychology of love, this subject has not yet been sufficiently explored through modern theoretical frameworks. To bridge this gap, the present study applies Sternberg’s theory—which notably aligns with many of Ibn Hazm’s observations—to Tawq al-Hamama in an analytical-descriptive manner. This article seeks to answer two key questions: 1. Which of Sternberg’s three components (intimacy, passion, commitment) are present in Tawq al-Hamama? 2. Which of these elements appears most frequently? Through textual analysis, the study examines Ibn Hazm’s typology of love, its causes, and its challenges, drawing on his personal experiences and anecdotes. The findings reveal that all three components of Sternberg’s triangle—intimacy, desire (passion), and commitment—are prominently featured in Tawq al-Hamama, expressed through poetic narratives, prose, and introspective reflections. Additionally, the research highlights the adaptability of Sternberg’s theory to Ibn Hazm’s work, while also identifying mania obsessive love) and ideal love as the most recurrent themes in the text.
