The Influence of the Principles and Characteristics of Thematic Criticism for the Identification of Themes in Ismail Hajani's Short Stories

Abstract

Thematic criticism is considered one of the modern critical approaches that seeks, through the use of available keys, to uncover the true meaning of a literary text. One of the distinguishing features of this method is its focus on a sequence of experiences to identify a specific unity within the literary work. In doing so, it reveals how the theme is shaped within a particular theoretical framework. Certain thematic criticism theories are linked to the structure of the theme, which may be clearly manifested in the text through a distinct style. For this purpose, statistical repetition and the recurrence of themes are analyzed as a foundation and continuity of a deep internal desire.

The central question in this context is whether we should focus on analyzing these elements that constitute the literary work, and whether we can reach the deeper meaning and purpose of the work through such transformations or by extracting key symbols and terms. Alternatively, thematic criticism may aim at analyzing the shared theme across similar texts. 

French critics use the term thématique for any analysis that focuses on the pressure of desire within an author's texts, the strong urge to write, or the description of effective elements that align both with reality and imagination. Thematic reading seeks to understand and uncover the sources and objectives within texts, highlighting the central idea and the powerful message carried by the literary work.