place
4 articles filed under this keyword.
The Poetics of Place in the Novel of “Dimdim Castle” by the Writer (Arab Shamo)
Walat Mohammed Taher M. Saeed, Ebdi Haci
This research, entitled "The Poetics of Place in the Novel 'Dimdim Castle' by Novelist Arab Shamo," is an attempt to demonstrate the strong relationship between place and man, and the reciprocal impact of different types of places. The poetics of place refers to the aesthetic and semantic characteristics produced within the novel, where the place is not merely a background but becomes a cultural and historical symbol that reflects a social and political reality. The research was conducted based on the principles of the structural-statistical method. From the very beginning of human life, a strong and powerful connection has existed between man and place. The place is the carrier of human experience, values, and meaning; it has an effect on the psyche and the determination of human identity. Among the most important findings of the research is that benefiting from the narrative techniques of foreshadowing and flashback, the description of places, and the expressive style with selected words and artistic images, creates beautiful scenes of "Dimdim Castle" through thought and imagination, embodying the life and authenticity of the place. It is worth mentioning that our research consists of two parts. The first part discusses the concept of poetics in general. The second part deals with the place, its types, and the extent of man's relationship with it.
Volume 13 · Issue 1 · March 2026Manifestations of Place in the Novel “Bahar-i Rash” by Ahmed Mohammed Ismail
Jwan Abdulqader Abdullah
The significance of “place” emerges as one of the most vital elements of the novel, serving as the setting where events unfold and through which characters move. At times, place acts as the central axis of the narrative work. In the realm of the novel—and specifically in this work—place is often deeply intertwined with questions of self, identity, and existence. Place in a novel differs from its reality in the physical world; it is a fusion of fact and imagination, possessing its own unique characteristics and distinct dimensions. The importance of place lies in its role as an active element in the development and structure of the story, as well as in shaping the nature of characters and their relationships. It is a space that encompasses and influences the entire narrative framework. We can assert that a creative novelist is one who bestows creative value upon a place, utilizing it to activate other narrative elements such as characters, time, and storytelling techniques. Kurdish novelists have devoted immense attention to “place,” treating it as a fundamental pillar in their works. This stems from the fact that the essence of the Kurdish struggle for survival is rooted in the land. Land and place are primary catalysts in the Kurdish quest to achieve an independent identity and exercise the right to self-determination. Essentially, the struggle is a struggle for the land, because land signifies identity (as exemplified in Ibrahim Ahmed’s novel Zhani Gal). Accordingly, we have chosen to study the concept of place in the novel Bahar-i Rash (The Black Spring) by the distinguished writer Ahmed Mohammed Ismail. In this novel, the author addresses the Anfal genocide committed against the Kurdish people by the former Ba’athist regime in the 1980s. Through the narrative, he highlights the attempts to obliterate Kurdish identity by depopulating the land of Kurdistan of its indigenous inhabitants through mass murder and forced displacement. However, Kurdish resilience proved stronger than the enemy’s brutal and aggressive methods. This eternal bond of love between the land of Kurdistan and its people is a central theme of the novel. Based on this premise, the research topic was selected: “Manifestations of Place in the Novel Bahar-i Rash.” The study explores the concept of place through two main sections.
Volume 7 · Issue 1 · January 2020The Manifestations of open space in the novels of Sinan Antoon
Sarkawt Gwril Ibrahim, Dhiya Abduirazaq Ayub
This study deals with an important topic in the narrative representations of the place through the narrative text. This topic is the significance of the open space in the novels of the Iraqi writer Sinan Antoon who published two collections of poetry: ‘A Prism saturated with War’ and ‘One night for All Cities’; and four novels: ‘I’Jaam’, ‘Alone is a Pomegranate Tree’,’ Fahrs’ and ‘Ya Maryam’. The latter was nominated for the Arab Poker Prize and was among the final short list in 2012. The research is divided into six sections; each section is dedicated for a selected type of open space such as: streets, pubs and bars, worship place, stadiums, university, and some other open places. The study opens with an introduction about the place in general and the open space in specific. The open space is an extension for the natural space with some changes made by man and his needs. This space has a special importance for the individual and his feelings because it forms a sort of belonging, sometimes man can express himself through the places he visits. It can be noticed that open spaces do not differ from closed one in terms of the symbolic value and their representations in the four novels. Despite the fact that these places are familiar and intimate to people, most of them are disappointing as they contain elements of loss and failure. On the other hand, these places can be seen in a positive way because of their nature such as being free and accessible spaces which attempt to look at the changes that took place in the society as well as the social relations and their interactions with place.
Volume 6 · Issue 2 · September 2019The Impact of Place on Personality in Kazuo Ishiguro’s A Pale View of Hills: An Eco-critical Study
Yousif Najat Awla
This study uses the ecocritical approach to examine the place’s impact on personalities in Ishiguro’s (1954- ) first novel A Pale View of Hills (1982). The research is based on the major tenets that have been elicited by some ecocritical figures. First, the paper throws light on the fact that a certain place has the power to define and direct the characters’ feelings and thoughts. In other words, it is an attempt to portray the interconnectedness of place with characters. Then, it clarifies that the physical setting is more than just a mere stage to be performed on. The study also analyzes the link between man’s essence and his/her surroundings. Next, it tries to probe beneath the fact: how the experience of displacement and dislocation has impacted the writer, his fiction, and the main characters. In addition to the emotional disturbance, the study also highlights the consequences of displacement on the characters. Afterward, the research sheds light on the human’s reciprocal relationship with the land. The study raises these questions: how do people view cities and countryside? Are they affecting the characters similarly? Most importantly, how are people’s life and death linked with their surrounding environment? The research points out that stronger forces, outside ourselves, determine who/what we are. Moreover, it focuses on the place’s power to make people nostalgic about their past. Later, it ascertains what is meant by the concept of “ur-place” and “territoriality”; also how a certain place can be a land to attain man’s unattainable dreams. It is worth mentioning, this study promotes ecocriticism, which is one of the most humanitarian science and literary approach. Last but not least, it also aims to shift the people’s concern and consciousness toward the places’ significance and urges them to change their perspective to the surrounding environment, practically.