Journal of Arabic Language & Literature

Abstract Structural criticism is one of the analyses that flourished in the direction of meaning generation in the 20th century following Saussure's semiotics. "Roland Barthes" - a French semiotician and theorist - is among the critics of structuralism, the importance of his theories is in the pursuit of evolution and semiotic adventure and the creation of a kind of intellectual vitality in analysis, modern criticism and the flow of structuralism. He has presented a code-based model for text analysis, beyond which, with the help of the context of the text, it is possible to analyse the structure of different texts, without the need for the presence of the author, and only with the help of the expressive language of the text. This meaning-making model, which recognizes ciphers as the voice of the text, consists of; There are hermeneutic or enigmatic codes, proiretic or active codes, meaningful or implicit codes, symbolic or confrontational codes, and cultural or referential codes. The main goal of this article is the application of Barth's analysis approach to the meaning analysis and interpretation of the written text (Lekol'' Amree Min Dahreh Ma Ta'awwda) by Motanbi, which is based on descriptive-analytical method. The result of the research shows that Barth's cryptography model shows the presence of ciphers in different parts of the body of the text, which shows a kind of semantic dispersion at the level of the text, and it can also be applied to classical poems. Revealing hermeneutic codes the poem is for the introduction of Saif al-Dawlah. Action codes. it also narrates his fighting as the main actor. Semantic ciphers and symbolic in pursuit of creating meaning for the two main and active characters of the text, Saif al-Dawlah and Mantabi, they have put two groups of good and evil in front of each other. The cultural macrocodes of the text also show its connection with the social and religious elements of power, acquisition and ideology and influence from them which is written in the final part Intertextuality with Nahj al-Balagha is used to create some kind of general information for the reader.

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 Structuralism is an approach in literary criticism that emphasizes the role of language in shaping literary works through the study of linguistic structures and their function in meaning production. Based on a structuralist perspective and Roman Jakobson’s theory of literariness—particularly the metaphoric and metonymic poles—this study conducts a detailed linguistic analysis of the well-known ode Lāmiyyat al-‘Ajam by Ṭughrā’ī. Adopting a descriptive–analytical method and employing statistical charts, the research examines the poem at three levels: linguistic, literary, and intellectual. The primary objective is to explore the relationship between linguistic and literary elements in the formation of meaning within the text. Given the significance and prominence of Ṭughrā’ī’s ode, a comprehensive analysis of its structure, poetic form, and semantic network appears necessary. The findings indicate that the meter and poetic rhythm are consistent with the poem’s conceptual and thematic content. Alliteration and assonance occur infrequently but remain noticeable, often appearing in the form of partial phonetic repetition. Moreover, defamiliarization and grammatical deviation play a key role in foregrounding the poetic language of Lāmiyyat al-‘Ajam, with metaphor emerging as the most frequent rhetorical device, reflecting the poet’s imaginative faculty and mental imagery. Overall, the linguistic and literary structure of the poem functions in the service of the poet’s thought and emotional expression.

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 The novel Al-Baḥth ʿan al-Shams by Ezzedine Jalaouji, a contemporary Algerian writer, reflects the reality of the Palestinian land and the struggle of its people for liberation and the recovery of a lost identity. This study adopts Eric Landowski’s semiotic–semantic framework, particularly the square of semantic systems, as the theoretical basis for analysis. According to Landowski, meaning in narrative emerges through actions such as persuasion, inducement, encouragement, adaptation, and chance, and with the centrality of action, multiple semantic layers are generated.
The main objective of this research is to analyze the semantic systems operating within the novel based on Landowski’s model. The significance of the study lies in its contribution to understanding how semantic systems can be discovered and interpreted across different narrative texts. The findings indicate that the narrative begins with a tense atmosphere and the introduction of the “subjugated” character as a static actant. Subsequently, the “stranger” enters the narrative with the aim of persuading the subjugated figure to resist the “rival.” Through a series of challenging persuasive actions, the stranger ultimately succeeds in activating the subjugated character, leading to the expulsion of the rival and the destruction of the barrier constructed by him and his supporters. In the final stage, with the realization of convergence and the formation of actantial competence, the subjugated character transforms into an active agent with a positive orientation. Through his action, Palestine—represented as the value object of the narrative—achieves liberation. Overall, the programmed semantic system dominates other semantic systems in the novel, driving narrative progression, generating new events, and transforming the existential state of the narrative actants.

Abstract Emotional intelligence (EI), first conceptualized by Daniel Goleman, refers to the ability to recognize, regulate, and manage personal and social emotions. Comprising the dimensions of self-awareness, self-management, self-motivation, social awareness, and relationship management, this concept provides an effective framework for analyzing the psychological layers of literary characters. Accordingly, this study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach to comparatively examine the dimensions of emotional intelligence (EQ) in two prominent novels: Cheshmhaayash by Bozorg Alavi and Ra’aytu Fīmā Yarā al-Nā’im by Najib Mahfouz, based on Goleman’s theoretical model. The significance of this research lies in the distinguished position of these two works within Persian and Arabic literature, as well as in the capacity of emotional intelligence theory to bridge psychology and literary criticism through an interdisciplinary perspective. The main objective of the study is to analyze the emotional intelligence dimensions of the characters in both novels and to clarify their functional differences: a socio-political function in Cheshmhaayash and an existential–identity function in Ra’aytu Fīmā Yarā al-Nā’im. The findings reveal that Alavi constructs characters shaped by political struggle and resistance, whereas Mahfouz, through a surreal narrative mode, explores the depths of the human psyche. In Cheshmhaayash, emotional intelligence is primarily employed to advance political agency and collective resistance, while in Ra’aytu Fīmā Yarā al-Nā’im, it manifests as an innate and internal capacity enabling the protagonist to confront existential and identity crises. Despite both authors’ shared reliance on emotional intelligence to deepen character psychology, their ultimate orientations differ: Alavi emphasizes action within the external socio-political realm, whereas Mahfouz foregrounds introspection within the internal, individual-existential sphere. The study thus confirms the effectiveness of Goleman’s model for analyzing deep psychological dimensions in narrative literature across diverse cultural and stylistic contexts