GLASS RAIN AND FRIGHTENED HEARTS: SEMANTIC DEVIATION AS A TOOL OF TRAUMA IN ZEINA HASHEM BECK’S ‘AFTER THE EXPLOSIONS’ A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

The present paper aims at providing a stylistic analysis of semantic deviation as the dominant stylistic strategy in Zeina Hashem Beck’ sweet After the Explosions. For this purpose, the article relies on the theoretical intersection of three fields: stylistics, Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), and trauma theory. Through motivated deviations from semantic conventions such as anomalous collocations, epithets, oxymoron, and violation of lexical field, Beck shapes, rather than merely embellishes her poem about making sense of trauma caused by Beirut’ explosions. Inspired by Leech’s (1969) theory of deviation in poetry and Halliday’s (1985) Systemic Functional theory, our close reading classifies four semantic deviations used in the poem: semantic deviance, transferred epithet, oxymoron, and violation of lexical field. This classification is then cross referenced within existing Caruth’s (1996) and Herman’s (1992) trauma theories. Ultimately, our study illustrates how Beck’ s lexical choices function as cohesive system where form enacts rather than just symbolizes trauma. Furthermore, this paper adds to scholarship on contemporary Arab diasporic poetry and provides replicable methodological framework for stylistics analyses of poems about conflict.