Relying on Norman Fairclough’s theory of Critical Discourse Analysis, this study examines the novel Al-Shawk wa al-Qaranful (The Thorn and the Clove) by Yahya al-Sinwar, aiming to reveal how power, ideology, and resistance are reflected in the linguistic and narrative structures of the text. The data for this research were collected through a library-based method and analyzed using a descriptive–analytical approach. The research is based on the original Arabic version of the novel and its Persian translation Khar o Mikhak (translated by Asma Khajehzadeh), both of which serve as the foundation for analysis and interpretation.The analysis of the novel, conducted on Fairclough’s three levels — description, interpretation, and explanation — demonstrates that language in this work is not merely a narrative tool but a means of confronting domination and reconstructing the collective Palestinian identity. On the descriptive level, the deliberate use of synonymous and antonymous vocabulary, folk metaphors, and simple yet purposeful syntactic structures reflects the harsh realities of poverty, displacement, and discrimination.At the interpretive level, the relationship between language and the socio-political context of Palestine becomes evident. Al-Sinwar, through his use of everyday language and local dialogue, creates a discourse of resistance in which words become a cultural weapon against occupation. On the explanatory level, findings indicate that the dominant discourse of the novel is one of resistance — a discourse that reproduces the ideology of steadfastness and freedom through linguistic and narrative components. The author skillfully employs language as a tool to expose domination, raise collective awareness, and preserve cultural identity.
In conclusion, the critical analysis of this novel, based on Fairclough’s model, confirms that language in Al-Shawk wa al-Qaranful is not a passive reflection of reality but an active force in constructing meaning and reinforc