Narrative-Time Techniques in the Poetry of Mahmoud Darwish: The Case of Madih ul-Zell el-Ali Ode

Literature plays a major role in the cognitive and mental world. Poetry, among other things in literature, may overcome many of the limitations in literature which structural barriers impose. Literature also has non-literary implications concerning historical and social issues at critical periods. The issue of time is not ubiquitous not just in dealing with social events, but is necessarily interwoven in contemporary Arab poetry as it requires some kind of communication which includes all the three elements of Past, Present and Future. Modern Palestinian poetry uses the concept of as a source when hopes about the future and returning to home from exile are expressed. This potentiality has opened new doors to the Palestinian poets such as Mahmoud Darwish, who incorporates his exile in Beirut in his work with many different time dimensions. The developments in Beirut and the Arab-Zionist conflict have taken away the poet from his own self and plunged him into resistance and confrontation. This research uses a descriptive-analytical method and the results suggest that time plays a major role in "Madih ul-Zell el-Ali” ode by Mahmoud Darwish. The thematic focus revolves around Beirut which means the events take place in this city; Different temporal elements have been resorted to in harmony with the goals of the author, such as foreshadowing, anticipation, flashback, and sequence. The employment of these techniques reflects Mahmoud Darwish’s concern about the events of his time and sufferings which he observes in Beirut.