السَّرد وتمثيل التَّاريخ في رواية "كأنها نائمة" لإلياس خوري

Yousef H. Hamdan

doi:10.35516/Hum.2025.9056

Authors

Yousef H. Hamdan Arabic Language and Literature Department, University of Jordan, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9009-7130

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2025.9056

Keywords:

As Though She Were Sleeping, historical representation, narrative, Nakba, Elias Khoury.

Abstract

Objectives: This study explores how Elias Khoury's novel As Though She Were Sleeping narratively represents the Palestinian Nakba of 1948, highlighting techniques that allow the novel to convey historical events through storytelling rather than direct historical account.

Methodology: Employing modern narrative theory, this research draws on concepts from critics such as Georg Lukács, Hayden White, and Paul Ricoeur to analyze the novel’s portrayal of historical events. It examines the techniques Khoury uses to depict the Nakba, focusing on how the novel’s artistic approach diverges from traditional historical narrative.

Results: The findings reveal that Khoury’s representation of the Nakba centers on the personal experiences of characters, particularly "Milia," whose psychological and social responses to the events reflect her fear, anxiety, and awe amid political upheaval. Key narrative techniques identified include dream sequences, evocative literary language, and an omniscient narrator shaped by postmodern influences, all contributing to a layered portrayal of the Nakba.

Conclusion: As Though She Were Sleeping offers a nuanced narrative of the Palestinian Nakba that transcends historical recounting, emphasizing the impact of major events on individual lives, relationships, and psychological landscapes.

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