Narrative Structure and Characterization in The Ring of Pigeons

Story results from a writer’s fantasies, feelings, and inner fears which are expressed in word form. Fictional characters emerge from the depths of the writer’s existence and enter the world of fiction. In general, we can say that the story comes from reality and illustrated by the author’s mind. Usually, authors use different metaphorical expressions to convey their intended message. The Collar of Pigeons, a novel Raja'a Alem, records social and religious events occur in Mecca and Madrid. Here, the Kaaba is a symbol of holiness though some people attempt to degrade its holiness. In terms of characterization, the novel is quite unusual: Raja uses dialogue, description, and inclusion to describe and present the characters of her novel, who are mostly complementary ones. The religious and imaginative atmosphere of the story along with its controversial structure has attracted numerous readers. The chronological, spatial, and logical arrangement of events in presenting characters follows a linear narrative flow. The formal structure of the story is divided into two parts, each with a different location. Different characters are identified with different “Izzah” identity. When examining the characters of the novel, it becomes clear to that the author considers maintaining the identity of the Kaaba, the main concern of the novel, by placing the narrative center in the Kaaba and the events that happen in this holy place. This article adopts an analytical and descriptive method to analyze strategies of characterization in the order, continuity, and arrangement of different parts of the novel.