A Critical Approach to Textual Thresholds The Collection “Child of Anguish” By The Poet Abdel Latif Al-Bashkar as a Model

Abstract

فيما يلي الترجمة الأكاديمية للملخص باللغة الإنجليزية:

This study examines the poetry collection Child of Anguish by the Libyan poet Abdul Latif Al-Bashkar as a rich case study for investigating the functions and significance of textual thresholds (paratexts) in the production of meaning and the guidance of literary interpretation. The study addresses the following research problem: To what extent do textual thresholds contribute to the construction of meaning and the reception of the poetic text? It aims to identify the various types of paratexts in the collection, analyze their semantic and aesthetic functions, and explore their role in directing readers' interpretation and shaping the relationship between the paratext and the poetic text. The study is significant because it applies paratext theory to modern Libyan poetry, offering a new critical perspective on the role of accompanying textual elements in constructing poetic discourse. It adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on textual criticism and semiotic analysis to examine the structure and functions of the paratexts. The findings reveal that the paratexts in Child of Anguish are not merely decorative elements; rather, they constitute an integral part of the poetic structure, contributing significantly to the production of meaning and the enrichment of textual interpretation. The poet consciously employs these paratextual elements to establish a semantic horizon that prepares readers intellectually and emotionally before engaging with the main text, confirming their essential role in the overall aesthetic and semantic construction of the collection.