Poetry and Symbolism, Representation of Islamic Awakening and Resistance: A Semiotic Analysis of Two Qasidas by Tamim Al-Barghouthi

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Arabica Language and Literature, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran,Iran

Abstract
In contemporary literature, the use of symbols as a means of indirectly expressing thoughts, emotions, and stimulating feelings and ideas—particularly in political and social contexts—has become remarkably widespread. This approach, which began in the second half of the nineteenth century, has paved the way for engaging the reader's mind in the process of reading. Among contemporary poets who have adeptly utilized this potential is Tamim Al-Barghouti; by employing religious symbols in his poetry, he has succeeded in creating new and interpretable imagery. This research adopts a semiotic analysis approach, gathering data through library research, and employs a descriptive-analytical method to examine the symbols in two of Al-Barghouti’s notable poems: "Amir al-Mu'minin" and "Safinat Nuh" . In the first poem, the poet meticulously uses symbolism to reconstruct the image of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in the form of the "Commander of the Faithful"—a figure symbolizing steadfastness, wise leadership in the resistance movement, and Islamic unity. In the second poem, the same figure is represented through the imagery of Noah’s Ark—a symbol emphasizing his redemptive and salvific role for the Islamic nation. The findings of this study reveal that Al-Barghouti, through the systematic use of religious symbols, has been able to articulate political and social concepts in an artistic and thought-provoking manner. These symbols not only convey the poet’s messages but also invite the reader to actively interpret and decode them.

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