Depiction Of Naturalism In The Novel Tafṣīl Tsānawī By Adania Shibli

Surur, Misbahus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-5004 and Oktaviani, Aulia Putri (2025) Depiction Of Naturalism In The Novel Tafṣīl Tsānawī By Adania Shibli. CMES (Center of Middle Eastern Studies), 18 (2). pp. 223-234. ISSN 2085-563X

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Abstract

Unlike realist novels, whose characters can resist certain authorities, characters in naturalist novels cannot do so freely. Instead, they are often portrayed as swept up in pessimism and powerlessness. This study aims to explore the aspects of naturalism in the novel Tafṣīl Tsānawī (Minor Detail), which depicts the condition of Palestine under Israeli occupation following the Nakba tragedy, using Zola’s naturalism as its theoretical lens. The research employs a descriptive–qualitative design: the novel is the primary source; secondary sources are books and journal articles on Shibli and Zola. Data were collected through close reading and note-taking, and analyzed via data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate five aspects of naturalism in Tafṣīl Tsānawī, including determinism: impaired rational judgment, and a persistent focus on minute details. Settings: the Negev Desert, the hut of the Israeli military commander, and Ramallah. Pessimism: the Bedouin girl’s inability to resist and anxiety about traveling beyond her territory. Objectivity: third-person narration, the commander’s directives to soldiers, and the stark depiction of the girl’s burial. Plot twists: the Bedouin girl’s murder and the female journalist’s successful entry into Israeli territory.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Adania Shibli; Emile Zola; Tafṣīl Tsānawī/Minor Detail; Naturalism
Subjects:	20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200523 Middle Eastern Literature 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200525 Literary Theory 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200527 Arabic Literature (al-Adab al-‘Arabī) 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200527 Arabic Literature (al-Adab al-‘Arabī) > 20052712 Tarikh al-Adab (History of Arabic Literature) - al-Adab al-Mu'ashir (Modern)
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities > Department of Arabic Language and Letters
Depositing User:	Misbahus Surur
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2026 14:41

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