Between the "Alter Ego" and the "Objective Correlative"; "Al- Ghufran" Poem by Tammam Al Tallawi as a Sample

Abstract

This paper aims at drawing a line between the concepts of the "alter ego" and "objective correlative", based on the analysis of one of the modern Arabic poems. This aim includes, within the context of analysis, questioning one aspect of the theoretical bases which have been continuously repeated by many researchers who tended to lay their foundations, such as considering the "alter ego" a foreign technique that has not been introduced to the structure of the Arabic poem until recently, and considering some aspects of employing the alter ego like the partial using, the hegemony of the lyrical voice and the rivalry of the poet's voice towards the persona's voice, etc. as being drawbacks in using this technique in the poem. It also aims at drawing a line between the concepts of the "alter ego" and "objective correlative" in accordance with the result of the analysis. The said text (Al- Ghufran) by poet Tammam Al Tallawi constitutes a practical entry that helps fulfilling the desired purpose. It belongs to the poet's second collection of poetry which was published by the Ministry of Culture in Damascus in 2006 under the title of "Sheaarael".