From the News of Thieves in the Abbasid Era

(A Narrative Study: Characters - Time – Place)

Abstract

Our literary heritage in the Abbasid era is rich with news of thieves, which received wide attention from writers and historians, some of whom dedicated entire chapters to narrating these tales, such as Al-Tanoukhi in his book "Nishwar Al-Muhadara" and Al-Isfahani in "Mahadirat Al-Udaba". This research aims to study these stories from a narrative perspective, focusing on their main elements: characters, time, and place.

The first chapter discusses the concept of character both linguistically and terminologically, focusing on the main and secondary characters in the stories. The research also illustrates how a character can be a vital narrative tool, adaptable for conveying ideas and attitudes, noting that sometimes the thief himself can be the main character in the narrative, while at other times secondary characters drive the events.

The second chapter deals with the temporal structure, explaining the temporal techniques used in narrating these stories, such as summary and scenic narration, and the temporal pauses used to enhance the narrative and stimulate the reader's thought. The research highlights the importance of balancing the time of the story and the time of the narrative, and how the narrator can rearrange events in creative ways to serve the story and highlight its aesthetics.

The third chapter discusses the spatial structure, providing a comprehensive definition of place in both language and terminology. The research explains how place is used in the narrative text as a background for events, and how it helps create a realistic framework for the story. It also includes a detailed study of the various places where events occur, such as shops, roads, and houses, and how these places contribute to enhancing the narrative and understanding the events.

In conclusion, the research demonstrates that studying the characters, time, and place in the news of thieves shows their importance and their ability to capture the reader's interest and engagement, making them an integral part of our rich literary heritage. This research opens the door for further studies on these stories, enriching our understanding of our literary history and highlighting its cultural and human value.