Local color criticism of the novel The Fig Tree of Temples

Local color criticism is one of the important approaches in literary criticism that examines the specific climate of a region and its influence on cultural, economic, political, geographical, etc components. Ahmad Mahmoud is one of those writers who has paid special attention to the climate of the south, and elements of climate criticism can be found in his works, including the fig tree of the temples. Therefore, the present essay has investigated the issue of local and environmental elements in the novel The Fig Tree of Temples with a descriptive and analytical method. The results of the research show that geographical and regional coordinates have an effect on the formation of the type of clothing, architecture, occupations and political developments, and also, the author has reflected extensively on native and local elements, idioms and proverbs in this novel. Local color elements and nature have caused the formation of many popular beliefs, including tying to trees, lighting candles, making sacrifices for trees, etc. The author of the novel has reflected the hot and humid weather and low rainfall in Khuzestan by using Local color imagery, and the nature and climate of the south has become the basis for the conflict between two traditional and modern societies. Ahmad Mahmoud has placed the arrival of foreigners and oil smugglers as a useful tool for people's awakening in this novel.