Formations of the Montage Image in the Poetry of Adnan Al-Sayegh: A Study of Parallel and Associative Montage

Abstract

Montage is one of the most prominent manifestations of image construction in contemporary Iraqi poetry. The Iraqi poet Adnan Al-Sayegh is considered one of the most influential figures in the realm of Iraqi prose poetry and among those who deliberately employ montage techniques in constructing poetic imagery. Parallel montage with its inherent aesthetic and narrative properties plays a pivotal role in forming images that convey to the reader the full spectrum of the poet’s memory. This is followed by associative montage, which transitions from one shot to another within the narrow confines of the text. The result is a comprehensive image that fulfills several functions, most notably evoking emotional resonance in the reader towards pivotal events in Iraq's modern history events that have profoundly impacted the Iraqi people.