Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

A Functionalist Examination of Subworlds in the Story of Prophet Yusuf

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
parvane salehi 1
shahram delshad 2
1 Master's degree in Arabic language and literature, Allameh University
2 Graduated with a PhD in Arabic language and literature from Boali Sina University, Hamadan
1022034/sshq.2024.424619.1396
Abstract
Every text is composed of a main world and several subworlds, which contribute to the formation of the meaning and concept of the main text, leading to a more comprehensive and nuanced reading by the reader. Based on Paul Werth’s "Text World Theory," a text can be analyzed from the perspective of cognitive poetics through the axes of discourse world, text world, and subworlds. The third level of this theory, the "subworld" or "subordinate worlds," includes three subsets: deictic subworlds, attitudinal subworlds, and epistemic subworlds. This article, employing a descriptive-analytical method and utilizing the axis of subworlds from Werth's theory, examines and analyzes the story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) in the Qur'an. The aim and necessity of this research are to understand the possible and diverse worlds within this unique Qur'anic story, focusing on the role of subworlds, which are often overlooked in the text, yet play a significant role in shaping the worldview of the narrative. The findings show that the narrative of Yusuf utilizes the capacities of these subworlds to create multiple layers of meaning, contribute to the dynamism and progression of the story, enhance the dialogic nature (especially between Yusuf, his brothers, and his adversaries), and reflect the silenced or marginalized voices (such as Yusuf’s fellow prisoners and other unnamed companions). The construction of these diverse subworlds facilitates the portrayal of essential Qur'anic themes, including divine decree, the certainty of divine commands, the conflict between good and evil, and the eventual emergence of prosperity and honor after hardship and humiliation.
Keywords
Qur'anic narrative
Story of Prophet Yusuf
Cognitive poetics
Paul Werth
Subworlds

Subjects

Abbasi, Habibullah, and others (2019), The Theory of the Text World in Beyhaqi's Narrative, Journal of Literary Criticism and Rhetoric, Volume 9, Volume 2, pp. 104-86 (In Persian)
Al-Akbari, Abu Al-Barta. (1407 AH). Al-Tabayan in the Arabization of the Qur'an. Research by Ali Mohammad Al-Bajawi. i2. Beirut: Dar Al Jail. . (in Arabic)
Barcelona, A. (2000). Metaphor and Metonymy at the Crossroads: A Cognitive Perspective. Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter. (in English)
Charran, Mahmoud. (1997). The science of language, an introduction to al-Qari al-Arabi. Beirut: Dar al-Nahda for printing and publishing. (in Arabic)
Stockwell, Peter (2013), An Introduction to Cognitive Poetics, translated by: Leila Sadeghi, Tehran: Marvarid (In Persian)
Golfam, Arslan and others (2013), the application of "theory of the world of text" in identifying the constituent elements of the narrative text of the story of Prince Ihtjab; Based on the cognitive poetics approach, Journal of Linguistic Studies, Vol. 21, pp. 183-206. (In Persian)
Gavins, J. & G. Steen (2003) Cognitive Poetics in Practice. London: Routledge. (in English)
Gavins. J. (2007). Text World Theory: An Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh. (in English)
University Press
Hidalgo Downing, L. (2000). “Text world creation in advertising discourse”. Universidad Autónoma. Vol. 13. pp. 67- 88.  Berlin; NewYork: de Gruyter. . (in English) . (in English)
Omar, Ahmad Mukhtar. (1988). science  Beirut: Alam al-Katb. (in Arabic).
Al-Razi, Fakhruddin Ziauddin Omar. (1990). Tafsir al-Fakhr al-Razi (Al-Tafsir al-Kabir). Beirut: Dar al-Fekr (in Arabic)
Rastgou , cobra; Salimi, Seyyedah Fatemeh (2018) Intellectual permission, permission or truth, with the approach of conceptual fusion in the Qur'anic discourse, Journal of Arabic Language and Literature, Q11, No. 1, pp. 54-25 (In Persian)
Rezaei, Bahr Ali, and others (1401), examining the discourse of the position of submission and hope in God in Surah Kahf based on Halidi's role-oriented system, Journal of Arabic Language and Literature, 14, vol. 2, pp: 108-88 (In Persian)
Sadeghi, Leila and others (1389), examining the elements of the world of the text based on the cognitive boutique approach in the leopards that ran with me by Bijan Najdi, literary criticism magazine, volume 3 - number 10 - pages 115-142 (In Persian)
Sadeghi, Leila (1400), literary criticism with a cognitive approach, Tehran: Logos (In Persian)
Semino, E. (1997). Language and World Creation in Poems and Other Texts, London: Longman. . (in English)
Stockwell, P. (2002). Cognitive Poetics: An Introduction. NewYork: Routledge. . (in English)
Werth, P. (1999). Text Worlds: Representing Conceptual Space in Discourse. London: Longman.
Winko, S. & T. Köppe (2008). Cognitive Poetics. In Neuere Literaturtheorien. Ed. by Winko, Simone and Tilmann Köppe. Stuttgart. pp. 300 - 312. . (in English)
Al-Zamakhshari, Jarallah. (No date). Al-Kashaf on the hidden facts of Al-Tanzil and Ayun Al-Aghawil in the faces of Altawil. Recording by Mustafa Hossein Amed. Cairo: Dar al-Ryan. (in Arabic).
Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran
Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 15
Eighth year, number one, fifteenth in a row, autumn and winter 2024
October 2024
Pages 118-135

  • Receive Date 11 November 2023
  • Revise Date 06 January 2024
  • Accept Date 14 January 2024
  • Publish Date 22 October 2024