International Journal of English Literature and Culture

IJELC

ISSN:2360-7831

International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 13(1), pp. 1-7, February 2025

 ISSN: 2360-7831

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijelc2024300

 

Review

 

A Comparative Study of Narrative Style and Common Themes in As I Lay Dying and Twilight in Delhi

 

1*Muhammad Umair, 2Aaqib Javaid and 3Amir Hafeez Malik

 

1&2Masters in English Language and Literature, School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China. 3Phd Scholar of English Linguistics, Islamia University of Bahawalpur. E-mail: aqibparvana912@gmail.com , E-mail: amirhafeezmalik1@gmail.com

Corresponding Author’s E-mail: muhammad.umair7476@gmail.com

Accepted 10 December 2024

Abstract

 

This study conducts a comparative analysis of the common themes and writing styles in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and Ahmed Ali’s Twilight in Delhi. Despite emerging from distinct cultural backgrounds, both authors successfully convey intricate human experiences through their narratives. This study looks at the psychological complexity of individuals and family relationships by emphasizing cultural identity and its breakdown in reaction to society change. It examines the way individual and group histories interact as well as the theme of nostalgia and memory serve in characters’ experiences. The analysis reveals how Faulkner and Ali address identity, family, and societal changes by examining their respective narrative techniques, language, and themes. Faulkner’s use of stream-of-consciousness captures the chaotic journey of the Bundren family as they grapple with responsibility and personal conflict, while Ali’s poetic style depicts the fading cultural identity, nostalgia, and societal transformation under colonial rule. Both writings contain prominent themes such as the inevitability of mortality, cultural identity, and familial roles, which provide profound insights into the complexities of the human experience. As I Lay Dying focusses on internal tensions in familial relationships, whereas Twilight in Delhi investigates the impact of colonialism on traditional beliefs. This comparative study reveals that both stories are important for comprehending the multidimensional structure of human existence, helping readers to grapple with the intricacies of identity and transition across cultural contexts.

 

Keywords: Comparative study, Narrative Style, Themes, Twilight in Delhi, As I Lay Dying  


 

Cite This Article As: Umair, M., Javaid, A., Malik, A.H. (2025). A Comparative Study of Narrative Style and Common Themes in As I Lay Dying and Twilight in Delhi. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 13(1): 1-7