Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad

Saadawi’s novel Frankenstein in Baghdad vividly portrays the grotesque amidst the backdrop of war-torn Baghdad. The grotesque, in all its different dimensions, is a defining feature of Saadawi's novel. This paper will look at how magical realism works as a narrative strategy for portraying the...

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Main Author: Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/1/TT%2010.pdf
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author Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas
author_facet Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas
author_sort Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Saadawi’s novel Frankenstein in Baghdad vividly portrays the grotesque amidst the backdrop of war-torn Baghdad. The grotesque, in all its different dimensions, is a defining feature of Saadawi's novel. This paper will look at how magical realism works as a narrative strategy for portraying the horrors of conflict in a surreal way. Magical realist strategies and expression of the grotesque, when the line between reality and fantasy is blurred, are viewed and analysed in this study through a close reading of Saadawi's text. This paper investigates the utilisation of magical realism as a narrative strategy to depict the horrors of conflict in a surrealistic manner. Through a meticulous analysis of Saadawi’s text, this study explores how magical realism serves as a conduit for the expression of the grotesque, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. By delving into the intricate interplay between magical elements and the harsh realities of war, this research aims to unravel the deeper thematic implications embedded within Saadawi’s narrative. By incorporating elements of identity fragmentation, moral uncertainty, and societal disintegration, this investigation seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of the profound impact of magical realism on the construction of narrative meaning in Frankenstein in Baghdad.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:248602025-02-26T07:43:47Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/ Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas Saadawi’s novel Frankenstein in Baghdad vividly portrays the grotesque amidst the backdrop of war-torn Baghdad. The grotesque, in all its different dimensions, is a defining feature of Saadawi's novel. This paper will look at how magical realism works as a narrative strategy for portraying the horrors of conflict in a surreal way. Magical realist strategies and expression of the grotesque, when the line between reality and fantasy is blurred, are viewed and analysed in this study through a close reading of Saadawi's text. This paper investigates the utilisation of magical realism as a narrative strategy to depict the horrors of conflict in a surrealistic manner. Through a meticulous analysis of Saadawi’s text, this study explores how magical realism serves as a conduit for the expression of the grotesque, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. By delving into the intricate interplay between magical elements and the harsh realities of war, this research aims to unravel the deeper thematic implications embedded within Saadawi’s narrative. By incorporating elements of identity fragmentation, moral uncertainty, and societal disintegration, this investigation seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of the profound impact of magical realism on the construction of narrative meaning in Frankenstein in Baghdad. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/1/TT%2010.pdf Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas (2024) Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad. 3L; Language,Linguistics and Literature,The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies., 30 (3). pp. 131-144. ISSN 0128-5157 https://ejournal.ukm.my/3l/issue/view/1738
spellingShingle Jumaah, Saif Ali Abbas
Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad
title Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad
title_full Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad
title_fullStr Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad
title_full_unstemmed Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad
title_short Representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad
title_sort representing magical realism as a strategy for the grotesque narration in ahmed saadawi’s frankenstein in baghdad
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24860/1/TT%2010.pdf