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A Study of the Dramatic Structure in the Poetry of Mahmoud Darwish

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A Study of the Dramatic Structure in the Poetry of Mahmoud Darwish A Study of the Dramatic Structure in the Poetry of Mahmoud Darwish from 1967 to 1987 A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2019 Anas A. I. Alhumam School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 5 Declaration ............................................................................................................................ 7 Copyright Statement ............................................................................................................ 8 Transliteration Chart ........................................................................................................... 9 Translation and Transliteration Statements ................................................................... 12 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 13 Dedication ........................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................................... 16 1.1 Focus of this Research ................................................................................................................ 16 1.2 Rationale for this Thesis ............................................................................................................. 17 1.3 Aims of this Thesis ..................................................................................................................... 18 1.4 Research Questions ........................................................................................................ 18 1.5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 19 1.6 A Brief Biography of Darwish’s Life and Work ........................................................................ 21 1.7 Historical Context ....................................................................................................................... 23 1.7.1 An Overview of Palestine in History ....................................................................................... 23 1.7.2 The Impact of the 1967 Defeat on Arab Political Ideology and the Palestinian Case ................................................................................................................................................... 30 1.8 Palestinian Literature .................................................................................................................. 35 1.9 The Transformations of Arabic and Palestinian Literature between 1967 and 1986 .................. 41 2 1.9.1 Resurgence of Steadfastness and Insistency ............................................................................ 41 1.9.2 New Poetic and Dramatic Structures ....................................................................................... 48 1.10 Definitions of Poetic Drama and Dramatic Structure in Poetry ................................................ 53 1.11 The Contribution of this Thesis ................................................................................................ 58 1.12 Structure of this Thesis ............................................................................................................. 60 1.13 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter Two: Literature Review...................................................................................... 64 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 64 2.2 Critical Studies on Mahmoud Darwish ....................................................................................... 65 2.2.1 Renewal of the Poetic Experience: The theme of Exile and Identity in Darwish’s Work ....... 65 2.2.2 Previous Studies on the Use of Dramatic Structure in the Work of Darwish .......................... 81 2.3 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 87 2.3.1 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................ 87 2.3.2 Selection of Works by Mahmoud Darwish .............................................................................. 95 2.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 97 Chapter Three: The Diaspora Experience and the Loss of Homeland in the Poetry of Darwish ............................................................................................................................... 99 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 99 3.2 The Definition of Diaspora .......................................................................................... 101 3.3 The Palestinian Displacement and Diaspora ................................................................ 105 3.4 The Conceptualisation of Diaspora and the Loss of Homeland in Darwish’s Work ... 115 3.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 137 3 Chapter Four: The Post-Naksa Phase and the Conflict between Individual and Collective Memories in the Work of Darwish ............................................................... 140 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 140 4.2 From History to Memory: The Conceptions of Old Memory and New Memory ........ 141 4.3 The Representation of National Memory and the Class Struggle in the Palestinian Case ............................................................................................................................................ 146 4.4 The Transformation of Memory Post-Naksa and the Battle of Individual and Collective Memories in the Work of Darwish ..................................................................................... 159 4.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 182 Chapter Five: The Aesthetic Characteristics of Narrative and Dramatic Language in Darwish’s Poetry: Intertextuality, Heteroglossia and Dialogism ................................ 184 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 184 5.2 Dialogism in the Novel and the Comparison between Poetic and Novelistic Discourses ............................................................................................................................................ 185 5.3 The Concepts of Intertextuality and Heteroglossia in the Work of Darwish ............... 193 5.4 The Formulation of Myths and Historical Symbols in Darwish’s Work ..................... 210 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 225 Chapter Six: Conclusion .................................................................................................. 228 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 236 Word Count 75,080 4 Abstract This thesis aims to examine the poetry of the well-known Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008). It focuses on the use of the dramatic structure in his work with reference to major historic events that occurred between 1967 and 1987, namely the 1967 Naksa, the 1982 Siege of Beirut, the 1982 Sabra and Shatila Massacre, and the 1987 First Intifada. When combined with his experience of exile and diaspora, these tragic events have had a major influence on his poetry, his own cultural identity, his memory, and his voice. These events are also turning points in the development of the renowned poet’s work and have inspired him to use new themes, styles, structures, and viewpoints, including the use of the dramatic structure, in his poetry. This thesis endeavours to explain the use of the dramatic structure in Darwish’s work displaying the dialogues, scenes, anecdotes, and different voices, as well as intertextuality with other religious, historical and literary texts. In addition, the thesis explains the concepts of dialogism, intertextuality and social heteroglossia in his work and addresses the issue of interplay between narrative and lyric discourse in his long poems. This thesis will also explore the themes of cultural identity and difference, past memory, new memory and the subaltern voices in Darwish’s work, with emphasis on the transformations of memory in his post-Naksa work. It will explain how he presents the counter- memory/discourse that is against colonial discourse and memory. Furthermore, the thesis addresses the poet’s dialogue when he speaks of the battle of memory: whether to recall the Palestinian (collective) national memory or discontinue it. 5
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