This thesis presents an account of Hejazi prose literature in the period 1908-1941 by tracing its main evolutionary trends, namely the gradual rejection of inherited conventional ideas and literary forms in favour of modern and ‘Western' concepts and genres. Since contemporary political events in Hejaz affect the development of its literature, each of the three parts of this study is prefaced by a brief survey of the political conditions which influenced the character of the Hejazi literature of that period. In Part One (The pre-Hashemite period, 1908-1916), Chapter I examines, by the method of textual analysis employed throughout the thesis, the traditional prose of Hejaz, which was out of step with modern conditions, and the newly introduced essay, a form which represents a departure from convention. Chapter II deals with the origins of the Hejazi press which was instrumental in bringing about literary change. Part Two treats of the Hashemite era (1916- 1925). Chapter I discusses the part played in literature by the Hashemite press; Chapter II analyses the development of the essay from its rudimentary beginnings into a fully-fledged literary form which eventually came to dominate the literary scene. It also refers to the formation of a new radical literary movement of the younger Hejazi writers. Part Three of this thesis deals with the early Saudi period (1925-1941) when Hejazi prose literature matured both in form and in content. Chapter I describes the importance of the Saudi press both as a stimulus and a medium of literary output; Chapter II traces the role of the younger Hejazi writers and studies the further progress of the essay, stressing its predominantly critical character. Chapter III discusses the beginnings of prose fiction in the Hejaz, with the novel, as represented by the roman de theme, still in the experimental stage; and with some notable achievements in the field of the short story and drama.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:320324 |
| Date | January 1967 |
| Creators | El-Shamikh, Mohamed Abdel-Rahman |
| Publisher | SOAS, University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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