Analysis of The White Lily Metaphor as A Representation of Inner Conflict in جندي يحلم بالزنابق البيضاء Mahmoud Darwish’s Poem

Putri, Sabrina Azzindani and Surur, Misbahus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-5004 (2025) Analysis of The White Lily Metaphor as A Representation of Inner Conflict in جندي يحلم بالزنابق البيضاء Mahmoud Darwish’s Poem. Lisanudhad: Jurnal Bahasa, Pembelajaran dan Sastra Arab, 12 (2). pp. 127-142. ISSN ISSN 2356-1998 & eISSN 2527-6360

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Abstract

This article analyzes Mahmoud Darwish’s poem جندي يحلم بالزنابق البيضا through Viktor Shklovsky’s concept of defamiliarization within the framework of Russian Formalist theory. The poem reveals the inner conflict of a weary soldier who dreams of peace symbolized by the white lily. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study explores how Darwish’s poetic language—rich in metaphors, paradoxes, and imagery—transforms conventional meanings of purity and heroism into reflections on trauma, loss, and existential struggle.The white lily, which traditionally represents innocence and peace, becomes a contradictory symbol bridging beauty and suffering, life and death. The findings indicate that Darwish employs defamiliarization techniques to challenge familiar discourses of nationalism and war, compelling readers to reinterpret universal concepts such as “homeland” and “victory” in more personal and human terms. Ultimately, Darwish’s aesthetic strategy not only deepens the reader’s emotional engagement but also encourages critical reflection on the human condition amid conflict.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Mahmoud Darwish, Defamiliarization, Metaphor, Arabic poetry, Inner conflict.
Subjects:	20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200523 Middle Eastern Literature 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200527 Arabic Literature (al-Adab al-‘Arabī) > 20052701 Nadlariyat al-Adab (Arabic Literary Theory) 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200527 Arabic Literature (al-Adab al-‘Arabī) > 20052705 Naqd al-Adab (Arabic Literary Criticism) - al-Syi'r (Poetry)
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities > Department of Arabic Language and Letters
Depositing User:	Misbahus Surur
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2026 14:42

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