Methods of Constructing the Total Image in the Poetry of Jawad al-Hattab

Abstract

This study examines the "Methods of Constructing the Total Image in the Poetry of Jawad al-Hattab," highlighting the fundamental shift in modern poetic structure. Modern poetry no longer relies solely on scattered, partial images; instead, it strives to create a complex "Total Image" where various elements converge to form an evolving and integrated artistic scene. The research problem is crystallized in the urgent need to elucidate al-Hattab’s "textual architecture" and uncover the artistic mechanisms through which partial images are organized into a unified holistic context. The study seeks to address a central question: How did the poet utilize diverse construction techniques to create a cohesive emotional unity free from fragmentation? From this arise sub-questions regarding the nature of these methods and their role in deepening poetic significance.

The significance of this research stems from its dual value: theoretically, it contributes to grounding the concept of the total image and its construction patterns in modern criticism; and practically, it highlights the artistic uniqueness of al-Hattab’s experience and his position in contemporary Iraqi poetry. To achieve these goals, the study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to survey selected texts, deconstruct their structures, and monitor the mechanisms of artistic formation.

The research plan is organized into an introduction and four chapters. The introduction is dedicated to defining the concept and the dialectical relationship between the part and the whole. Chapter One (Circular Construction) examines the mechanism of returning to the starting point to achieve artistic closure. Chapter Two (Sectional Construction) explores how adjacent tableaus integrate to form a thematic unity. Chapter Three (Dramatic Construction) reviews the employment of conflict, dynamism, and dialogue to breathe life into the text. Finally, Chapter Four focuses on (Epigrammatic/Signature Construction) and the aesthetics of intensification, brevity, and the fleeting glimpse, leading to a conclusion that summarizes the most prominent findings.