Arabic Literature

Abstract Applying psychological theories in reading children's stories can bring new horizons to the audience and show the role of stories in improving the educational level of children. William Glaser's theory of choice is one of the new perspectives of psychology which with a realistic approach and with an emphasis on internal control, considers human behavior to be derived from his five internal needs. It means the need for survival, the need for love and belonging, the need for strength and progress, the need for freedom and the need for fun. Children identify with the characters in the story and try to imitate their behavior; therefore, the use of choice theory in the analysis of children's stories can discover new dimensions of the characters in the story and their behavior to satisfy their needs and provide the ground for writers to write in their works according to the needs of children and take an effective step in the direction of children's moral education. Therefore, in the current research, the authors try to answer the main question in a descriptive-analytical way and using the theory of choice, which of the basic needs of the mentioned theory has a more prominent appearance in the story "Princess of the Golden Palace" by Mohammad Atiya Al-Ibrashi and what behaviors do the characters of the story choose against their needs. The results of the research show that in this story, the need for love and belonging is the most obvious need that has been paid attention to and after that, the need for survival, the need for power and progress, the need for fun, and the need for freedom have a high frequency.

Abstract The semiotic theory of "Umberto Eco" examines the symbolic systems of a text in the historical, social and cultural context of their production, and based on this, the interpretation process of each work is based on the dialectic of the text and the reader.

Works such as "Islam Bela Daffaf" written by Yusuf Idris, a famous Egyptian writer, as a realistic work in which the problems of Egypt and the Islamic world are processed and the situation of Arab countries are presented alongside the hegemonic policies of the West, are a suitable platform for the application of this theory in order to discover hidden angles. It is the effect and presentation of a new reading of it. In Eco's view, the interpretive reading of any sign
is basically a cultural and sensitive issue to the social issue, and its interpretation process should be provided in the historical, social and cultural context of the work and through the dialectic of the text and the reader. Works such as "Islam Bela Zafaf" written by Youssef Idris, as a realistic work that deals with the problems of Egypt and the Islamic world, is a suitable platform for following and discovering signs based on this approach. Based on this, the present research, with a descriptive-analytical method, based on the eco-semiotic approach, investigated the Egyptian character in the research sample and came to the following conclusion: three issues of contamination of value systems, women and their legitimate freedoms, and the ancient civilization and rich culture of Egypt. The main themes of dealing with the Egyptian personality in the book are taunting the reactionary Islamists, the author's way to deal with the dimensions of the Egyptian personality And the discussion of common themes such as the change of value systems in the works of Egyptian thinkers.

Abstract The term pedagogy is a term in the field of education and refers to the method of education. Children are taught in two ways, direct and indirect (play). Play and drama are used to learn complex concepts so that the child learns them in the best way. One of these concepts is sustainable literature, which has attracted the attention of many writers in this era. In order to teach this concept, it is necessary to act in such a way that it has the greatest importance in children, and perhaps the best way to teach this difficult concept is through games and performances. In this essay, the authors have analyzed the play “The Bassous War will never happen” by Jamil Hamdawi, a Moroccan writer, from the perspective of the pedagogy of sustainable literature, with a descriptive-analytical method, and are looking for answers to the questions that the pedagogy of the concept of sustainability with what patterns in the text it has been shown. The results of these investigations indicate that the author has succeeded in teaching the concept of sustainability to children by using text patterns. Through the story of Abel and Cain, he taught children that war has negative and destructive effects and that peace and unity is the best way to resist and sustain. Therefore, Hamdawi can be considered as a successful pedagogue in the field of sustainability literature, who, using plays, teaches the principles of sustainability to small audiences and guides them to constructive solutions.

Abstract Jung's theory of archetypes transcended the realm of psychology and entered the domains of literature and mythology. According to this theory, humans possess not only a personal unconscious but also a collective unconscious, which encompasses universal and timeless patterns that have persisted in the human psyche since antiquity. Mythological literature is examined and analyzed as a field for the manifestation and expression of this collective unconscious. In this research, *One Thousand and One Nights*, as a rich and enduring literary heritage, is taken as the basis for a Jungian archetypal reading through a descriptive-analytical approach. By exploring the relationship between the collective unconscious, archetypes, and literature, the study demonstrates how the application of archetypes in the tale of "Ghanim bin Ayyub and Qut al-Qulub" from *One Thousand and One Nights* serves as a platform for deepening the narrative and revealing the collective unconscious and archetypes through literature. The presence of these archetypal elements, which date back to the history of humanity, is among the factors contributing to the enduring nature of such works. The interaction of these archetypes throughout the narrative depicts a process of crisis, transformation, and evolution. Thus, literature and storytelling enable the audience to experience this path of evolution through identification with the narrative, allowing them to internalize this journey within their own unconscious. By drawing on archetypes and myths, literature bridges the gap between humanity's collective unconscious and individual experiences, facilitating a deeper understanding of self-awareness and personal evolution.

Abstract Sociological criticism of the novel is a method of literary criticism that deals with the mutual influence of literary texts and society. Goldman's formative structuralism criticism is one of the types of sociological criticism in which it examines the relationship between literary structure and the structure of society. Goldman, relying on the topics of this theory such as totality, worldview, possible consciousness, and objectification, explores the society created in the work and examines its similarity to real society. The novel "The Republic of As It Is" is one of the novels of the Egyptian writer Alaa Aswani, which is a reflection of the society and events of the 2011 revolution in Egypt. This study has examined the novel "The Republic of Kan" in a descriptive-analytical manner and according to Goldman's theory of formative structuralism. By analyzing the novel in two parts: perception and explanation, examining the characters, meaningful structures, their awareness, and the political and social contexts in these two parts, it seeks to answer the following questions: Can it be said that the writing of this novel has the foundations of Goldman's theory of formative structuralism? Is its writing influenced by the conditions of society? How have meaningful structures manifested themselves in the context of society? The results obtained indicate Aswani's ability to portray the conditions and circumstances of Egyptian society and the obstacles to its change for the better, and to provide the reader with social and individual awareness of the conditions, time, and place in the form of meaningful structures and characters.

Abstract Abstract:
The violence stemming from war endures over time within society, and its impacts are reflected in artistic works in various forms. This violence, as a suppressive element within power relations, reveals the two contrasting faces of the dominant and the submissive. The novel "The Virgin of Sinjar" by Ward Badr al-Salem addresses the genocide of the Yazidis in 2014 by ISIS and is recognized as one of the first literary efforts to depict the situation of the Yazidis in this genocide. The extent of violence and assaults against the Yazidis became the central theme for several Arab novelists.
Using a descriptive-analytical method, this research represents and analyzes the various dimensions of ISIS's violence against the Yazidis from the perspective of Slavoj Žižek, aiming to show how different layers of violence are represented in the novel "The Virgin of Sinjar". Žižek emphasizes the hidden aspects of violence and considers explicit violence to be the result of hidden violence. Structural, ideological, and cultural violence are among the hidden dimensions that can lead to explicit violence.
The research illustrates that ISIS, with religious justifications and the philosophy of "the end justifies the means," exercises proactive violence, which is the result of the interaction of reactive and systemic violence. Using mythical violence, ISIS establishes its desired order and commits numerous atrocities. Žižek's theory demonstrates that ISIS's violence is a function of the systemic violence stemming from global capitalism and complex social, economic, and political interactions.

Abstract Folktales and legends of One Thousand and One Nights depict the hidden desires and cognitive-behavioral states of the masses of people; in this way, they are closely related to the unconscious mind, reveal its contents, and are considered a valuable source for psychological studies. This disorder, which is in category B of the ten mental disorders, is characterized by three main characteristics: self-importance, lack of empathy, and need for admiration. Regarding the explanation of narcissism and its multiple levels, Millon's typological model is one of the most comprehensive and complete theories. Since this model will pave the way for better understanding of personalities and their mental states, it has been cited in this article. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to explain the various layers of narcissism, the function of these layers, and the degree of convergence of the behavior of narcissistic characters with the findings of the theory in question, based on the descriptive-analytical method and Millon's ideas. The results of the study show that this disorder in the stories of One Thousand and One Nights has four levels: compensatory, Unprincipled, Amorous, elitist. The aforementioned levels play a significant role in explaining the unconscious desires of characters, advancing narrative elements, and representing the relationship between literature and society; therefore, they have literary, psychological, and sociological functions. The mental states of narcissistic characters converge with and prove the two basic principles of Millne's theory, namely, multi-layering and fusion with other psychological traumas.

Abstract Stigma is a social phenomenon that exposes individuals to judgment and discrimination and affects the formation of individual and social identity. The present study, with a social criticism approach and based on Erving Goffman's stigma theory, examines the representation of stigma in the formation and crisis of women's and men's identities in four contemporary Arabic novels: "Handless Fingers" by Ihsan Abdel Quddous from Egypt, "Al-Kafra" by Ali Badr from Iraq, "Al-Khattiyah" by Nasrin Ballout from Lebanon, and "Imra'a Sreesia Al-Atab" by Wassini Al-Araj from Algeria; novels that have been formed in different historical and social contexts such as war-torn societies (Iraq and Lebanon) and societies in transition from tradition to modernity (Egypt and Algeria) and depict the characters' reactions to stigma in the form of submission, resistance, or redefinition of identity. The findings of the study show that stigma is not a purely gendered phenomenon and that both male and female characters are exposed to it. In the novels “Hands Without Hands” from Egypt and “A Woman of Fast-Pained Women” from Algeria, which are set in the context of societies transitioning from tradition to modernity, the stigmatized characters show different reactions, from retreat to resistance and redefinition of identity. In contrast, in the novels “Al-Kafra” from Iraq and “Al-Khatia” from Lebanon, which are narrated in the context of war and social crisis, stigmatization leads to different paths, and in “Al-Kafra” it leads to the formation of an individual and independent identity, and in “Al-Khatia” it leads to refuge in a collective and social identity.

Abstract Geocriticism is a modern, interdisciplinary literary criticism approach that studies the complex link between literature and space, emphasizing pluralism and shifting perspectives. It also calls for a humanistic approach to shaping urban spaces and fostering a culture of empathetic and ethical coexistence among citizens. This descriptive and analytical study seeks to examine and analyze the geocritical mechanisms in Mourid Barghouthi's autobiographical novel "Ra'aytu Ram Allah", based on Bertrand Westphal's theory. The present paper attempts to demonstrate how the urban space of Ramallah in this novel transcends being a mere backdrop and becomes an active ground for the representation of identity, memory, and exile. The findings indicate that Barghouthi utilizes Westphal’s fundamental principles: Firstly, “Spatiotemporality” (chronotope) intensifies a sense of perpetual displacement and “existential alienation” through the convergence of the present time of return and the past of memories within a single location (such as the Allenby Bridge). Secondly, the concept of “Transgressivity” is reflected through the depiction of the hardships of crossing checkpoints and occupied borders, as well as the breaking of genre boundaries (combining memoir, travelogue, and poetry). Thirdly, “Referentiality” is reinforced through the interplay between the harsh reality of the occupation and the author’s imagination of his lost homeland. Furthermore, complementary mechanisms such as “Multifocalization” (especially the "migrant" or "Thirdspace" perspective) and “Stratigraphy” portray Ramallah as a “polyphonic and wounded city” where historical layers of occupation are intertwined with individual nostalgic layers. Ultimately, the geocritical analysis shows that "Ra'aytu Ram Allah" is not merely a literary document about the literature of exile, but a prime example of “writing the city” in the context of crisis and resistance, transforming the urban space into a central character and a foundation for the reconstruction of the displaced subject.

Abstract Children's literature is one of the most important elements of a correct relationship with children, especially in oppressed societies, which helps readers to become familiar with the challenges of war and accept the reality of war with the least psychological pressure. In order to create a bridge of communication between himself and the reader, Suleiman Issa, as a children's poet, imagines a reader in his mind as a latent reader in the creation of the work and organizes his thoughts in accordance with the image he has created of the listener in his mind. Aiden Chambers, a contemporary theorist, has a comprehensive view of the latent reader, in which the latent reader is examined from four dimensions: style, favoritism, expressive gap, and perspective. The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines Suleiman Issa's poems based on Chambers' model in order to measure the author's success in communicating with the latent reader. The research achievement shows that the poet has an intimate connection with the latent reader by using the correct style and vocabulary appropriate to the understanding of children, and by placing the child at the center, he advocates for him and by using this method, he encourages the motivation of resistance in the children of his land; mentioning the poet's own childhood memories is one of the tricks of his advocacy for the latent reader. By creating expressive gaps, the poet gives the reader the opportunity to reflect and invites him to persevere, and from the perspective of the point of view, he is often either the third person plural or singular; which in this way gives the reader the confidence of being present in his writings.

Abstract Salim Barakat, the Syrian-Kurdish poet and novelist, radically relocates the entire narrative geography of his novel "The Caves of Haydrahudahus" (2004) into a subterranean world confined within a cave. This research aims to dissect the multifunctional nature of this space, addressing the central question of how the cave transforms from a physical location into a complex narrative, ontological, and symbolic structure. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the study is grounded in a integrated theoretical framework comprising Gaston Bachelard's "Poetics of Space," Mikhail Bakhtin's "Chronotope," and Michel Foucault's "Heterotopia." The findings indicate that the "cave" in this novel operates on multiple levels. As a Bakhtinian "chronotope," it freezes historical time, supplanting it with a mythic-cyclical temporality, thereby transforming humans from historical subjects into linguistic interpreters. From a "Bachelardian phenomenology" perspective, the cave possesses a dual function: it acts both as a protective "womb/shelter" and as a "grave/labyrinth" that provokes existential anxiety stemming from confinement. Finally, as a Foucauldian "heterotopia," this space becomes an "other space" and a "counter-site" that simultaneously serves as a distorting mirror of the external world and a laboratory for creating a "linguistic homeland" in the absence of a physical one. The overarching conclusion is that the cave in this novel constitutes a multifaceted metaphor for collective memory, fragmented history, and the "placeless" existential condition of modern humanity, particularly within the context of the Kurdish historical experience.

Abstract The poem Al-Shu‘ā‘ al-Khābi’ (“The Hidden Ray”) is one of the examples of narrative poetry by Sayyid Qutb. This work is a quasi-philosophical poem which, through a coherent narrative structure, reconstructs an image of the poet’s inner and spiritual transformation. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the present study rereads this poem and seeks to answer the question of how the poet, by interweaving the two elements of agency and narration, transforms a mental process into a quasi-objective journey within the framework of narrative poetry. The findings of the study show that the sequence of events in this narrative poem, contrary to its outward appearance, does not unfold on the basis of external actions; rather, it takes shape through changes in the poet’s spiritual state and inner emotions. In other words, the narrator simultaneously assumes two roles: experiencer and storyteller; indeed, the narrator is, at the same time, the narrative itself. By employing classical narrative techniques such as the presence of a narrator, the elements of time and place, and the transformation of actions, the poet presents an image of an ontological drama infused with a Khayyamesque sense of despair. In this drama, objectivity is so intertwined with subjectivity that the reader is led to imagine that a journey in the real world has actually taken place.

Abstract Folk fiction reflects collective experiences, beliefs, and values ​​in simple and tangible language through elements and language of popular culture. Although these works have a simple and unadorned appearance, they are the arena for displaying deep cultural patterns, ideologies, and styles that attract the audience by relying on expressive language and familiar images from everyday life. Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of "carnivalism" is one of the important approaches to analyzing contemporary narrative texts, emphasizing folk literature, liberating laughter, the inversion of official values, and polyphonic discourses. Saad Al-Qarsh's novel El Maestro, using humor, satire, and the representation of an inverted world, provides a dynamic and vivid platform for analyzing the manifestations of carnival in the social and cultural context of contemporary Egypt. This study, with a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on Bakhtin's theoretical components, examines the main manifestations of carnivalism - including coronation and dethronement, mask and identity change, grotesque laughter, coexistence of opposites, and parodic nature - in the structure and theme of the novel. The results indicate that El Maestro, by creating a polyphonic space, collapsing class boundaries, and challenging the formal order through humor and inversion, organizes a kind of alternative cultural discourse in which "laughter" becomes a tool for criticizing power and social liberation. This indicates the high capacity of contemporary Arabic literature to recreate carnival concepts in a local context. Therefore, the novel "El Maestro" is the best option for presenting Mikhail Bakhtin's carnival literature, in which the most basic elements of Bakhtin's carnival are clearly visible.

Abstract The symmetry of pronunciation and meaning is one of the techniques that the Paris school of semiotics addressed, and by Joseph Curtis, a French theorist, in the aspects of illustrating the hidden and inner parts of speech and poetry texts, which make words the way to reach meaning.  Therefore, among the reasons for choosing Diwan's «Harf Men Ma'a, Qhessatah Hobben Tawila» by Adeeb Kamal Ad_Deen, an Iraqi letter poet, for Curtis's pronunciation theory, in this research, is the depth of meaning hidden behind his words, which is the texture of his tone. The application of the semiotics of this divan was done by using descriptive analytical approach. which were considered the three divisions presented by Curtis «time, place, and characters», to the topics of poetic discourse and divisions. Pronunciation and pronunciation, and its superficial and deep level should be determined. The results indicated that most of the poems of Adib Kamal Ad_Deen have the combined power of discourse, which can have that deep level of meaning even with the presence of one letter and one or two lines in each part of the poem. Despite the brevity and brevity of the words, full of tenderness and simplicity, in order to reach those depths of meaning and strong meaning, but are full of beautiful interpretations. Also, this research found that the selected verses, as analytical examples, have those advanced attributes that Curtis considered in the vocabulary section, these semantic necessities were revealed during the intersection of the verses

Abstract Discourse, as an efficient linguistic process, is one of the most widely used tools used by the domination system to achieve social-political goals, whether in the form of speech or writing. Critical discourse analysis is a systematic approach to study how to use this process. Hodge and Kress are among the linguists who, relying on this principle, presented a linguistic and methodical model, consisting of four components: naming, nominalization, unknown vs. known, and action sentences vs. documents. Are   This research is descriptive-analytical with the aim of explaining the ideological orientations governing the text in the novel The Second Dog War It has investigated the process of discourse structures based on this theory. The result of the research indicates that the author has explained his ideologies in the face of the domination system, the capitalist rule and the socio-political conditions of Palestine with the use of language and discourse orientations in the linguistic context of the novel. The new form of dealing with the issues of Palestine and the discourse structure of the mentioned novel depicts a society that, in the pleasurable and lustful encounter with the dreams of modernity, still places its value and freedom in the occupation of aliens, and finally, with the spread of human simulation, it leads the world to the abyss of destruction. The destruction of the ideal city of these social activists is the result of their destructive speech, which is manifested in small behaviors and small speeches, and is considered one of the effects of linguistic functions on literary texts

Abstract Since violence represents suppressive aspect of power, a violent relationship between the inferior and superior parties is inevitable. By combining philosophical and everyday life concepts, Žižek depicted different dimensions of violence. The novel At the ISIS table narrates the suffering of the Izadi people who encountered the invasion and genocide of ISIL. Using Žižek's model, this study had an attempt to explain the different layers of ISIL violence against Izadi people to show how the author has represented different dimensions of violence in the events of the story and has applied the issue of violence as a narrative theme. The results of the research showed that all types of violence in the novel are influenced by the violence of the gods mentioned by Žižek. By applying systemic violence, ISIL intends to de-institutionalize the family and other social foundations. ISIL's methods for repressing women are active and symbolic, and at the same time, it has not neglected active methods such as using women against women. ISIL used takfir of the "other" to justify violence against its members, and the Izadis were doomed to destruction as a manifestation of infidelity that hindered the realization of the caliphate's objectives. In the present novel, women are the biggest victims of violence, and their inferior position has historically added to ISIL's power to commit systemic and absolute violence against women.

Abstract In the contemporary era, along with his changing thought and feelings, human being has transformed story writing ,as well and unlike the past, has hidden the meaning under beneath layers of the narrative. In this regard, the place and its meaningful reflections are among the capacities where various elements could be decoded by probing in its aspects. Phenomenology with expanded theories, has attracted the attentions into this meaningful element rather than other sciences. One of the most prominent theories that has been presented about place by phenomenologists is the theory of “sense of place”. This sense transforms the space into the place with special sensual features and is considered an important factor for identifying people. A factor which has caused the authors to attribute the targeted positioning in their works to that. ʻAicha Arnaout', is a Syrian – Albanian author and poet, creator of psychological novel I lead you to others  where the place carries the novel meanings and concepts which corresponds to the sense of place. The current research attempts to study the mentioned novel relying on the descriptive-analytical method and based on the mentioned theory, so that it finds information about latent conceptual layers in the place element of this story. Some of obtained results suggest existence of new models in places like home, school and cafes where by receiving the inner sense of place, the author has prepared the ground for a new reading of them.

Abstract The psychological criticism is one of the novel techniques in literary criticism which tries to examine what is beyond the literary work in order to find the interconnection between art and the artist. The American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, believes that human beings need to grow, and to achieve this growth and development, they need to fulfill five steps of requirements including physiological, security, social, esteem and self-actualization needs. In fact, these needs help the individual accomplish the ultimate goal and first, lower level needs must be satisfied so that the person can reach higher levels and finally self-actualization. In this regard, the present research, through the descriptive-analytical approach, examines the protagonist of the novel Ayyām maʻah by Colette Khoury, the Syrian author based on Maslow’s theory. The novel is mostly indicative of Koury’s character and her society whose restrictions are the biggest obstacles to the growth and excellence of the women. Despite the obstacles, most of the women are trying harder to resist them in order to reach perfection for creativity and self-actualization. The results of this study indicate that the aforesaid novel matches the indices mentioned by Maslow for self-actualization. Most women and girls do not have the chance to develop and nurture their talents and capacity because of obstacles like irrational customs and traditions. The most obvious need of the protagonist is the presence of a supporter who can remove the obstacles to her growth and grant her wishes. Although she does not have all self-actualization components, having characteristics such as resistance to acculturation, problem-centeredness, acceptance of herself and others, creativity, simplicity, and being natural is a sign of self-actualization. She tries to reach the requirements in steps 4 and 5 of Maslow’s pyramid, and on this way, along with the resistance to the dominant culture, she reaches self-actualization by developing her talents like composing poems and playing music.

Abstract It has been about a decade that the apparently Islamic government of Iraq and Syria known as “ISIS” has played a role in Iraq. By forming a government, ISIS has tried to reconstruct the society and promote its own special discourse. Since the rise of any movement and phenomenon is manifested in literary realism, which represents social truth and life, the effect of ISIS on literary fiction in Iraq, the target point of this movement’s activism, is considerable. The main purpose of this study is to identify the discourse elements of ISIS, define Nodal point, floating signifier, empty signifier, foregrounding and marginalization and determine the articulation of its discourse in “the Bird Tattoo” novel by “Dunya Mikhail” based on analytical-descriptive method and with reference to discourse analysis model by Laclau and Mouffe. This method has an immense capacity to define social-political phenomena. The results show that ISIS political basis which grounds in accepting “self” (foregrounding) and rejecting “other” (marginalizing Christians, Jews and Iraqi Yazidis) marginalizes every person, group or organization which is not in line with its ideology and accuses them of disobeying and rioting. ISIS is an ideological organization based on Takfiri thought and beliefs, and to fight this organization, besides face-to-face war, it’s thought system should be confronted. To realize central signifier of ISIS discourse, which is establishing “Islamic Caliphate”, floating signifier (Jihad, Takfir of “other”, Sharia and Hejira) helps its articulation so that the empty signifier of this discourse (establishing justice and equality, building dignity and dominating the world), which is also its metaphoric and mythicizing aspect, realizes

Abstract Critical realism as a literary school has a special place in the critique of fiction, a school that reflects social life with an objective approach to facts. Samuel Shimon in his novel An Iraqi in Paris  under the influence of the social structure in which he lived, reflects the immigrant gaze in another country which he lived. Considering the necessity of addressing the phenomenon of migration and its hidden and obvious negative effects on the communities from which migration takes place, The present study uses a descriptive - analytical method to examine the impact of colonialism and government policies on Iraqi society , especially the impact of these policies on the ethnic minorities of Iraq from the perspective of an immigrant. The purpose of this paper is to examine the harmful political, economic and social challenges of the author's era in Iraq , based on the components of critical realism , in order to explain the effective factors on migration. The achievements of the research show that the author has shown his events and political, historical and social conditions of his society with a realistic and critical style with a humorous expression. As an Assyrian immigrant, As an immigrant Assyrian, Shimon represents the social class from which he emerged, criticizing the failure to change the policies of the governments in different historical periods towards the minorities living in Iraq. Influenced by the social and political environment of Iraq, especially the conditions of the Assyrian minority, the author has been able to clearly explain the role of colonialism in sectarian wars by representing history and criticized the space in which societies and their governing policies deprive people of their legal and human rights whether in the immigration environment or in their own homeland by depicting the face of a homeless immigrant.

Abstract Post-colonialism and the theory of polyphony are closely related in terms of analyzing the monophonic discourse of power. While Mikhail Bakhtin considers the polyphonic novel as a labyrinthine, colorful world that gives vent to heterogeneous voices, postcolonial theorists attempt to investigate aspects and factors of hegemonic tyranny and discuss the voice of the marginalized and the disadvantaged people as the topic of literary criticism. Cities of Salt by Abdul Rahman Munif (the famous Arab novelist), which is a quasi-historical account of the process of the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia and the transformation in the point of view of colonialism (from classic to modern), adopts a polyphonic and dialogic narrative in order to offer a multifarious image of the middle east during the colonial and the post-colonial periods. It sets out to show how the modern colonialist perspective of the United States substitutes the classic British one. In theoretical terms, the present study expounds upon some of the most central components of Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of polyphony and dialogism so as to apply it to postcolonial studies. In applied terms, the writers have attempted, relying on assumptions of Bakhtin’s polyphonic theory –such as the narrative line, the multiplicity of discourse and the incorporated genres– to offer a postcolonial reading of the pentalogy Cities of Salt. Hence, the findings of the present article can be divided into two theoretical and applied parts: first, dialogism and the polyphonic theory of the novel by Bakhtin can open new horizons in the field of postcolonial studies, such as divulging the hegemonic aspects of the literary text and, more specifically, the narrative. Second, Abdul Rahman Munif, in Cities of Salt, offers various voices and discourses so as to push the dominant discourse of tyranny/ colonialism into a dialogic structure and nullify its made-up authority through juxtaposing it with other, equally valid, anti-discourses. Third, the writer offers incorporated genres adapted from the cultural Arabic-Islamic tradition in order to render null and void the oriental discourse of colonialism, which consists of robbing the colonized of their identity and ignoring their history and culture in an attempt to make them appear as savage barbarians.