The Deadly Sheet: History and Formation

In The Fatal Letter – History and Formation, Dr. Ghassan Mourtada delivers an in-depth comparative investigation into the literary motif of the "fatal letter" (a letter ordering the execution of its bearer), famous in Arabic tradition through the tragedy of the Pre-Islamic poet Tarafa ibn al-Abd.Using comparative literature methodology, the author traces the evolution and cross-cultural recurrence of this motif across ancient, classical, and world folk literature. The study analyzes the narrative structure and psychological undertones of this motif, exploring whether its prevalence in both Pre-Islamic Arabic heritage and global folklore stems from direct cultural transmission or universal human narrative archetypes.

It provides a groundbreaking comparative lens that lifts classical Arabic literature out of isolation, offering a fascinating analysis of how narrative motifs transcend cultural boundaries.

Academics, researchers, and postgraduate students in comparative literature, folklore studies, Classical Arabic literature, and narrative theory.