Semiotic-Semantics of Dunqul’s Poetic Discourse based on Landowski's Approach: A Case Study of the Qasida from the Memoirs of al-Mutanabbi

This study conducts a semio-semantic analysis of the poetic discourse in Amal Dunqul’s ode “From the Memoirs of al-Mutanabbi,” examining how political and social concepts are represented through the dynamic interplay of symbols and linguistic indices against the backdrop of 1960s Egypt. Grounded in discourse semio-semantics with a focus on Landowski’s (2004) theory, the research undertakes a comparative study of historical subjects, utilizing the interactive system of adjustment and controlled drifts. The findings reveal that Dunqul, through the redefinition of figures such as al-Mutanabbi (a symbol of intellectualism and resistance), Kafur (a symbol of weak and passive governance), Khawla (a symbol of occupied Palestine), and Sayf al-Dawla (an archetype of the ideal ruler), employs political metaphors (such as “the rusted sword” and “slave traders” as Zionists) and spatial indicators (such as Jericho and Aleppo) to construct a multilayered discourse reflecting the lived experiences of Egypt’s social tensions. These elements, through linguistic action and sensory perception, reinforce ideologies of resistance, the pursuit of justice, and critique of ruling hegemony (Anwar Sadat). The discursive functions of the poem show that Dunqul transforms language into an instrument of “resistance” and, by employing a “Shoushi” discourse, calls upon his audience to rise up against prevailing political conditions.