SYMBOLISM IN THE POEMS OF MAHMOUD DARWISH: A SEMIOTIC PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34125/jetsli.v2i2.84Keywords:
Symbolism, Semiotics, Arabic Literature, Modern Arabic Poetry, Mahmoud DarwishAbstract
This study aims to analyze the symbolism in Mahmoud Darwish's poems through a semiotic perspective in order to reveal the symbolic meanings that represent the identity, struggle, love of the homeland, and the social reality of Palestinian society. This study uses a qualitative approach with a library research type. The research data are in the form of verses of Mahmoud Darwish's poems containing literary symbols such as land, olives, birds, houses, and seas which are analyzed using semiotic theory by examining the relationship between signifiers, signifieds, and connotative meanings in the poetic texts. Data collection techniques are carried out through documentation studies, intensive reading, recording, and classification of symbols found in Mahmoud Darwish's poetic works. The results show that the symbol of land represents the identity and rights of the Palestinian people, the symbol of olives symbolizes peace and cultural roots, the symbol of birds represents freedom and hope, while the symbols of house and mother represent longing for the homeland. The use of these symbols shows that Mahmoud Darwish builds a narrative of struggle and humanity through poetic language that is aesthetic, emotional, and full of socio-political meaning. This study concludes that the semiotic approach is able to reveal the depth of symbolic meaning in Mahmoud Darwish's poems and shows that symbolism in modern Arabic literature does not only function as an aesthetic element, but also as a medium for expressing national identity, social criticism, and humanitarian struggle.
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