Article
The Polyphonic Structure in Modern Arabic Novel: “With Particular Reference to Miramar, The Spartan Diwan, and Bookseller’s Notebooks as Case Studies”
AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies
(2023)
Abstract
This critical study aims at exploring the polyphonic structure in three Modern Arabic Novels. The first novel, Miramar, written by Mahfouz, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988. It is set in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1960. The second novel, authored by the Algerian Issawi, is entitled al diwan al-party (The Spartan Diwan or Court) and is set from 1815 to 1833. The third novel, dafatir al-Waraq (Bookseller’s Notebooks), is from Jordan and is written by Barjass. The paper tries to clarify and uncover the narration method in these three modern Arabic novels that demonstrate a narrative discursive style parallel to what Bakhtin suggests as a Polyphonic Novel. The central question behind this argument is ‘what are the primary features of polyphonic narrative in these three novels?’ The attempt to answer this question clarifies the ways these features contribute to the meaning of these novels. The paper concludes that the polyphonic structure becomes an evitable feature of Modern Arabic Novel and is evident in the existence of multiple narrators, diverse cultures, stream of consciousness, the interrelationship of literary genres, and using poetic language and dialogues.
Keywords
- Arabic novel,
- Bookseller’s Notebooks,
- Miramar,
- narration,
- polyphone,
- stream of consciousness,
- The Spartan Diwan
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring May 24, 2023
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol7no2.10
Citation Information
Salih, A.Nasir Yousuf A. Kareemp & Bwshayr, Al Rashid. "The Polyphonic Structure in Modern Arabic Novel: “With Particular Reference to Miramar, The Spartan Diwan, and Bookseller’s Notebooks as Case Studies”" AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies Vol. 7 Iss. 2 (2023) p. 137 - 153 ISSN: 2550-1542 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/awejfortranslation-literarystudies/401/