السيرة الذاتية في مرآة الأدبين العربي والغربي: قراءة مقارنة في النصوص والأنواع

Autobiographical Writing in Arabic and Western Literature: A Comparative Study of Forms and Narratives

Abstract

This study explores the rich and evolving genre of autobiography within both Arabic and Western literary traditions، offering a comparative analysis of its origins، purposes، typologies، stylistic dimensions، and its broader cultural and moral implications.   Autobiographical writing serves as a reflective mirror of the author's inner self، often characterized by boldness، honesty، and a deep engagement with individual identity in the context of prevailing social norms and ethical expectations. As autobiography and biography continue to expand their significance within the field of modern comparative literature and literary criticism، this paper addresses an existing scholarly gap by examining underrepresented forms of self-narrative such as memoirs، self-translations، personal testimonies، and even résumé writing، which all contribute to the understanding of personal voice in literature. The research undertakes a historical and analytical investigation into the development of autobiographical writing in Arabic and Western contexts، tracing its deep roots in classical Arabic literary culture—including early works of siyar (biographical narratives)، philosophical reflections، religious confessions، and mystical writings. These early texts not only predate Western autobiographical models but also reveal an established tradition of self-reflection in Arab intellectual history. By employing a comparative and interdisciplinary methodology، this study examines literary، cultural، and historical intersections، showcasing how autobiographical texts evolved from traditional forms into more modern expressions of individuality and personal consciousness. It seeks to demonstrate how autobiography، as a genre، becomes a dynamic space where personal narrative، literary artistry، cultural memory، and historical awareness converge، shaping both the writer's identity and the reader's interpretive engagement.