Dzil Majaz: Journal of Arabic Literature

Echoes of Grief: The Semiotics of Dove Lamentation in Umayyad Poetry

2025-07-12T01:14:44+00:00

This study investigates the symbolic and semiotic dimensions of the mourning dove in selected Umayyad poetry, focusing on its emotional, cultural, and spiritual connotations. The research is grounded in the problem of how symbols from nature—especially birds—are used to convey complex psychological and emotional states in early Arabic poetic expression. While the dove has appeared across mythological and religious narratives as a symbol of peace, longing, and divine presence, in Umayyad poetry, it often serves as a mirror to human sorrow, particularly in the context of 'Udhrī (chaste) love. The main objective of this study is to explore how the motif of the mourning dove functions as a layered semiotic sign that reflects human grief, nostalgia, and metaphysical yearning. The study employs a qualitative semiotic method based on the frameworks of Roland Barthes and Charles S. Peirce to analyze a selected corpus of Umayyad poems. Through close textual reading and symbol analysis, the research uncovers how poets such as Jamil ibn Ma‘mar and Kuthayyir utilize the image of the dove to construct emotional depth and spiritual symbolism. The findings reveal that the mourning dove operates not only as a literal bird but as a complex signifier of absence, longing, and unattainable love. Its recurring presence reinforces key themes of spiritual suffering and existential melancholy in the Umayyad poetic tradition. This research contributes to broader discussions in Arabic literary criticism, semiotics, and cultural studies by demonstrating how animal imagery, especially that of the dove, serves as a powerful semiotic vehicle in classical Arabic literature

A Genetic Structuralism Analysis of Mahmoud Darwish’s Poem “Ahinnu Ila Khubzi Ummi”

2025-07-12T01:32:29+00:00

Literary works are often created based on an author’s personal experiences or imaginative ideas, which shape the meaning and aesthetic value of the text. However, readers frequently face challenges in understanding the implicit messages conveyed by the author, especially in poetry that combines beauty and depth of meaning. This study aims to analyze Mahmoud Darwish’s poem “Ahinnu Ila Khubzi Ummi” through the lens of genetic structuralism in order to reveal both intrinsic and extrinsic elements that construct its meaning. The research employs a qualitative approach using the library method by collecting and reviewing relevant journals, books, and documents related to genetic structuralism and Darwish’s works. The analysis identifies intrinsic elements such as theme, tone, imagery, and message, which reflect strong emotional and patriotic nuances. Additionally, extrinsic elements, including the author’s social and historical context, reveal the influence of Palestinian identity and resistance on the creation of the poem. The study also notes stylistic features such as repeated words (hyperbole) and certain ambiguous stanzas that require interpretative reading to uncover hidden meanings. The findings demonstrate that the poem is not only an expression of personal longing but also a symbol of national struggle and cultural memory. This research contributes to the field of literary studies by offering an in-depth understanding of how genetic structuralism bridges textual analysis with socio-historical context, particularly in modern Arabic resistance poetry

The Image of Makan Between Pre-Islamic Poetry and The Modern Novel (Al-Hutay'ah and Kazim Al-Ahmadi as a Model)

2025-07-12T01:24:16+00:00

The spatial imagination in Arabic literature offers a critical lens for exploring the interplay between cultural identity, historical change, and narrative form. This study, The Image of Place between Pre-Islamic Poetry and the Modern Novel (Al-Hutai'ah and Kazem Al-Ahmadi as a Model), investigates how representations of place function beyond descriptive realism to become sites of symbolic meaning and ideological engagement. The research problem centers on the evolution of spatial imagery from the pre-Islamic poetic tradition to the modern Arabic novel, and the ways in which these images encode sociopolitical realities. The aim is to uncover the semantic layers and symbolic functions of place in the works of Al-Hutai'ah and Kazem Al-Ahmadi, demonstrating how each transforms space into a cultural text that both reflects and critiques its historical moment. Adopting a comparative analytical methodology, the study contrasts the desert and tribal authority of the pre-Islamic world with the urban landscapes and power structures of modern Iraq. Findings reveal that in Al-Hutai'ah’s poetry, “the desert” operates as a metaphor for individual alienation and the struggle for tribal dominance, whereas in Al-Ahmadi’s narratives, “Basra” emerges as a narrative geography encapsulating collective oppression, resistance, and memory. The research also observes that contemporary theoretical approaches to narrative space parallel classical Arabic rhetorical traditions in decoding spatial symbolism. This study contributes to Arabic literary criticism by bridging classical and modern frameworks, illuminating the persistent role of place as a vehicle for articulating identity, resistance, and historical consciousness across distinct literary epochs.