A comparative study of the northern and southern groups in mahjar literature (Focusing on Nasib Aridah and Shukrallah Al-Jurr)

The phenomenon of migration has always existed in Arab societies. Migration has often served as a means of renewal for them; remaining in one place has been seen as a situation that brings harm. Migration sometimes occurred by personal choice, and at other times as a result of external pressures. In the 19th century, the weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the region, along with internal systemic disruptions and economic difficulties, forced Arabs living in the Bilad al-Sham region to migrate. These migrations, influenced by Western missionary activities and the establishment of schools by American institutions in the region, were mostly directed towards the United States. The literary movement known as Mahjar literature emerged as a result of Arabs from countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan who migrated to the West for primarily political and especially economic reasons. In the countries they migrated to, they engaged in a wide range of literary activities to preserve their cultural identity and maintain ties with their homeland. They published magazines and newspapers, and established associations. Led particularly by Lebanese writers, this movement was both influenced by its new environment and went on to influence modern Arabic literature. As a result of the migrations to North and South America, Mahjar literature was divided into the Northern Mahjar Group and the Southern Mahjar Group. This study offers a comparative analysis of the divisions within Mahjar literature. Sources written on the subject have been evaluated using the document analysis method. The first chapter provides general information about Mahjar literature and its subdivisions. The second chapter examines the Northern group, focusing on the life, literary identity, and the poem "al-Nihāyah" by Nasib Aridah. The third chapter addresses the Southern group, examining the life, literary identity, and the poem "Shallāl Tījūkā" by Shukrallah al-Jurr. The aim of this study is to reveal the differences between the Northern and Southern groups within Mahjar literature through a comparative approach. In conclusion, the research outlines the distinct differences between the Northern group, which made a significant leap in the development of modern Arabic literature, and the Southern group, which aimed to revive traditional values by staying rooted in classical heritage.