Examining Narrative Elements in the Works of Fariba Kalhor Based on Laclau and Mouffe’s Discourse Theory

Abstract

Analyzing narrative elements in the works of authors provides a gateway to a deeper understanding of their style, worldview, and discursive implications. The present study specifically examines the narrative elements in the works of Fariba Kalhor through the lens of Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on library-based research methods, this study analyzes components such as characterization, setting, plot, tone, dialogue, and point of view in the two books The Wise Ones of the Planet Orak and The Cheese Tree and I. It further highlights the role of these elements in shaping and conveying ethical, cultural, and social messages. The findings indicate that Kalhor utilizes imaginative settings, symbolic characters, and multilayered narratives to address issues such as environmental concerns, technology, modern ethics, and social responsibility. While critiquing the discourse of consumerism, she simultaneously invites child readers to engage in philosophical and ethical reflection on the world around them. The results further demonstrate that the skillful application of narrative elements in Kalhor’s works places them within the domain of philosophy for children literature and contributes to the development of critical thinking, the cultivation of environmental responsibility, and the enhancement of social awareness among child and adolescent readers.