1- Islamic Azad University, Karaj
2- Islamic Azad University, Karaj ,f.divsalar@iau.ac.ir
3- , Islamic Azad University, Karaj
2- Islamic Azad University, Karaj ,
3- , Islamic Azad University, Karaj
Abstract: (246 Views)
Gérard Genette’s narratology theory is considered one of the foundational frameworks in narrative studies and the analysis of narrative structures. In his works, Genette systematically examines components such as order, duration, frequency, focalization, and narrative level, demonstrating how the arrangement of time and the narrator’s point of view significantly shape the reader’s perception of a text. Based on this framework, narrative analysis of literary texts enables the identification of hidden layers of meaning, temporal structures, and the narrator’s position. This article applies Genette’s theory to examine the novel Utbat al-Alam (Threshold of Pain) by Hassan Sami Youssef, focusing on narrative structure and temporality. Through various narrative techniques—particularly anachrony, frequency modulation, and shifts in narrative levels—the novel reflects the emotional and human experiences of its characters amidst critical events. The use of internal narration, mental monologues, and temporal shifts constructs a multi-layered, psychologically driven experience that immerses the reader in the characters’ complex inner world. The research method is descriptive-analytical and based on qualitative textual analysis using key concepts from Genette’s theory. The findings reveal that Utbat al-Alam, by employing structural narrative elements such as diverse focalizations and temporal suspension, successfully conveys a powerful depiction of internal suffering and turmoil, transforming narrative into a tool for representing the lived experience of the contemporary human condition.
Keywords: Narratology, Contemporary Arabic Novel, Gérard Genette, Hassan Sami Youssef, Utbat al-Alam.
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