Ghassan Kanafani said in his book Return to Haifa, “I have lost my identity in exile, and my memories have become my homeland. I live in an endless longing,” while Youssef Idris said in his book The Walls: “When you leave your homeland, you feel that you have lost something greater than the place; you have lost a part of yourself, and you become a being without features."

These quotes serve as a powerful entry point into a deeper exploration of displacement, language, and identity. While these writers articulate the profound sense of loss experienced in exile, they also invite us to consider how literary texts—both in their original languages and in translation—provide a means for individuals to navigate these feelings. The act of writing about loss becomes a vital tool for those who have left their homelands, allowing them to maintain connections to their past while simultaneously crafting new versions of themselves. This intersection of language and identity is crucial; the choice to write in Arabic, for instance, reflects a longing to preserve cultural heritage, whereas the translation of these works into English facilitates a broader dialogue about these experiences. By examining how writers utilize literature to negotiate their identities, we uncover the intricate ways language can both hold onto and fracture connections with homeland, culture, and memory. The complexities of migration and globalization challenge individuals to reconcile their past selves with their present realities, and literature serves as a crucial medium through which this negotiation unfolds. 

This seminar seeks to explore related questions about the emotional and psychological as well as the cultural and linguistic ramifications of displacement. It welcomes proposals for papers that explore a range of language traditions and that investigate the complexities and contradictions of how literary texts provide space to navigate loss and preserve, contest, or reconstruct identities.