Contemporary Arabic Literary Criticism of Fiction: a Study of the Realist Trend.

Abstract

The criticism of fiction is a new type of Arabic literary criticism, one that began to mature in the early 1950s. Since that time it has been primarily concerned with realistic fiction. This study explores the major issues related to the realist novel and is based solely on the writings of Arab critics throughout the Arab world between 1950 and 1985. The dissertation examines the critics' views of the nature of the realist novel and the factors that have led to its emergence and development. The function of the realist novel as the critics underst and it is discussed. The study distinguishes between two branches of criticism: critical realism, which calls for the novel to assist in the reforming of society by accurate depiction of its problems and concerns, as seen through the experience of the novelist; and socialist realism, which asks that the novel depict what ought to be rather than what is in order to spread socialist ideology among the masses, to prefigure the future for them, and to give them an optimistic view of that future. Critics' views on elements of real life as components of the novel are examined. Critics dem and that time and setting, for example, be presented not as in real life but as perceived by the characters in the novel. The critics ask novelists to apply selectivity and the concept of the average in their choice of characters and events. Critics' views on the method through which the writer should present his materials are also discussed, and issues of objectivity of characterization, plotting, presentation of time and setting, and language of dialogue are considered. The majority of the critics call for the employment of conventional methods in these areas. The conclusion of the study contains an evaluation of the output of the movement as seen in the earlier chapters and notes some historical assumptions concerning the development of realism. Various discrepancies between the critics' views of the role of the novel and their views on its components and form are also indicated and problems arising from the practical realist criticism of the novel are considered. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)