GLASS RAIN AND FRIGHTENED HEARTS: SEMANTIC DEVIATION AS A TOOLOF 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.