THE FORMATION OF CULTURAL THOUGHT IN LITERATURE: AN EXPRESSIVE CRITICAL REVIEW

ادب میں تہذیبی فکر کی تشکیل: تخلیقی اظہار کا تنقیدی جائزہ

Abstract

This paper critically examines how literature contributes to the formation and reflection of cultural consciousness through creative expression. Cultural thought is not merely a passive inheritance but an active, evolving discourse shaped by historical experiences, collective values, and artistic insight. Literature, as both a mirror and molder of civilization, encapsulates the emotional, ethical, and intellectual responses of societies to their cultural realities. Through various genres—especially fiction and poetry—writers engage in a complex dialogue with their traditions, histories, and emerging global influences. This study highlights how literary texts serve as a dynamic space where cultural identities are contested, affirmed, or reimagined. Special focus is placed on the symbolic, thematic, and narrative strategies authors employ to articulate their socio-cultural concerns. The paper argues that literature is not just a product of culture but an agent that reshapes and redefines it in every era.

Key Words: Culture, Literature, Identity, Creative Expression, Tradition, Modernity, Critical Discourse