The Intertwining of Realism and Surrealism in the Narrative Structure of The Valley of Mehgia

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Persian Language and Literature. Faculty of Literature and Humanities. University of Sistan and Baluchestan. Zahedan. Iran.

10.22080/rjls.2025.29238.1548

Abstract

ome narrative texts blur established stylistic boundaries by integrating narratological features associated with different literary movements. Through the use of diverse narrative techniques, such works produce multilayered and dynamic narrative structures that invite readers to continuously reassess meaning. The Valley of Mehrgia is one such work that vividly reflects this stylistic interweaving. In this story, realist elements, through the detailed depiction of everyday life and the representation of social and historical realities, provide a foundation of narrative credibility. At the same time, surrealist elements, manifested through temporal dislocation, dreamlike atmospheres, and disruptions of narrative logic, transform the narrative space into a subjective and uncanny experience, challenging conventional modes of storytelling. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing upon narratological tools, this study examines the mechanisms underlying this stylistic duality and the interaction between its constituent elements within the narrative structure. Findings reveal that The Valley of Mehrgia creates a narrative framework in which the boundary between reality and imagination is dissolved. Although rooted in a recognizable historical and geographical context, the story ultimately rests upon a subjective mode of experience. The coexistence of realism and surrealism thus transforms the narrative into a multilayered and intellectually challenging medium for interpreting humanity, history, and consciousness.

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References

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Research Journal of Literacy Schools
Volume 10, Issue 35
September 2026
Pages 73-101

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