FROM HEROIC SYMBOL TO EXISTENTIAL ABSURDITY: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE IDEA OF DEATH IN ALGERIAN LITERATURE WRITTEN IN FRENCH

Abstract

Literary themes are numerous, and death occupies a central place. This theme occupies a significant part of Algerian literature, renowned for its richness, whether written in Arabic or French. In this article, we attempt to explore the concept of death in Algerian literary works in French through a descriptive study of the most important works that use the symbolism of death in literature. The study demonstrates that the meaning of death evolved significantly, transitioning from a collective, heroic symbol of resistance during the colonial era to a representation of individual and collective existential trauma and political critique following independence, particularly during the 'Black Decade' of the 1990.