فدوى طوقان: خنساء فلسطين وسيرة التحرر الذاتي والوطني

Fadwa Tuqan: The Khansāʾ of Palestine and the Journey of Personal and National Liberation

Abstract

Fadwa Tuqan is regarded as one of the most influential modern Arab poets, whose poetry reflects deep emotional sensitivity, national consciousness, and feminine awareness. Born in Palestine, her literary journey was shaped by personal suffering, social restrictions, and the political turmoil of her homeland. Through her poetic and prose works, Tuqan voiced the struggles of women, the pain of exile, and the resilience of the Palestinian spirit. This article explores her life, literary development, major themes, and her significant contribution to modern Arabic literature, highlighting her role as both a poet of resistance and a pioneer of women’s expression in the Arab world.

This article explores the literary journey of Fadwa Tuqan (1917–2003), one of the most prominent figures in modern Arabic poetry. It delves into her transition from “subjective” poetry, characterized by romanticism and an exploration of the inner self, to “nationalistic” poetry that voiced the Palestinian struggle after the 1967 Naksa. The study examines how Tuqan broke through the traditional constraints imposed on women in a patriarchal society, using her autobiography, A Mountainous Journey, and her poetic collections as primary sources. The article concludes that Tuqan’s work is not merely a record of personal grief, but a foundational pillar of Palestinian resistance literature that bridges the gap between individual liberation and collective identity.