Description in the novel “Slave Pens” by Najwa Bin Shatwan

Abstract

Description in ancient texts was often neglected and excluded; some considered it a parasitic element of narrative, while others recognised its importance. Some regarded it as secondary and subservient, considering it an integral part of storytelling. However, modern critical studies have paid significant attention to it, making it an essential element of narration. Writers have become more adept at incorporating it into their literary texts. For example, the novel Zarayeb Alabid is rich in descriptive passages that serve the literary work, helping to convey the characters' personalities and emotions, mixed with pain and sometimes joy. These descriptions assist the reader in understanding the events, their significance, and their impact on the audience, particularly the specificity of place, the depth of events, and their effect on the reader