Narrative Theory and the Refugee Crisis in The Beekeeper of Aleppo: The Authority of Storytelling

Abstract

This paper examines the application of narrative theory to Christy Lefteri's 2019 novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo, with an emphasis on how the structural elements of the narrative; plot, characters, and settings, improve our knowledge of the portrayal of refugee experiences, trauma, and identity. Influenced by significant concepts from narrative theory, including the works of Ryan (2006), Herman et al. (2010), and Rimmon-Kenan (2003), this study explores how Lefteri's narrative structure captures the fractured and horrific characteristics of displacement. The study emphasizes the non-linear plot, intricately developed characters, and evocative setting of the work that together humanize the refugee experience and contest dominant discourse. The study bridges narrative theory and refugee literature, revealing how the role of storytelling is more than just a literary device, but a means of political and social commentary. This study enriches both literary narratology and refugee studies by critically analyzing how narrative structure influences perceptions of forced migration.