Digital humanities is a field concerned with the use of computational tools to enhance the study of humanist disciplines. For this project, we used XML to model our texts in a machine-readable format. We validated our markup against a schema we created to constrain the markup. Then, using XSL transformations, we created SVG graphics and the XHTML output you see currently.
The Qur'an is organized by chapters and verses, henceforth surahs and ayahs, respectively. Because each text had to be analyzed by a human annotator to identify the rhetorical devices being invoked, the team confined our analysis to three surahs from each text. These surahs were selected subjectively based on cultural significance and richness of the text. Our were texts sourced from the Perseus Digital Library under Creative Commons licensing. Using XML, the texts were annotated to tag instances of eleven different stylistic devices, shown below.
Amplification: This device refers to language which is used to glorify God. Within the Qur'an, God is referred to by various epithets that emphasize the different attributes of God. These epithets are called the 99 names of God.
Example: "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Compassionate—whichever you call, He has the Most Beautiful Names." (17:110)
Simile: A comparison of two things using 'like' or 'as'.
Example: "His light is like a niche in which there is a lamp, the lamp is in a crystal, the crystal is like a shining star..." (24:35)
Metaphor: A comparison of two things without using 'like' or 'as'.
Example: "Guide us along the Straight Path..." (1:6)
Imagery: Figurative language that creates a mental image.
Example: "Do you feel secure that He will not cause the land to swallow you up, or unleash upon you a storm of stones?" (17:68)
Parallelism: The use of similar words, clauses, phrases, sentence structure, or other grammatical elements to emphasize similar ideas in a sentence.
Example: "My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing." (17:80)
Anaphora: The repetition of words or phrases in a group of sentences, clauses, or poetic lines.
Example: "Then had we made thee taste a double (punishment) of living and a double (punishment) of dying." (17:75)
Allusion: A symbolical reference is called allusion. Allusion is an indirect reference in a discourse by passing mention or quotation, to something generally familiar.
Example: "We did bestow on some prophets more gifts than on others: and We gave to David (the gift of) the Psalms." (17:55)
Contrast:Emphasizes the differences between two people, places or things.
Example: "Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty." (17:11)
Irony: The use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of what is actually said.
Example: "Give good news of a painful punishment to hypocrites..." (4:138)
Rhetorical Question: A question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.
Example: Is there any reward for goodness except goodness?" (55:60)
Emphasis: Marker that indicates emphasis or focus of the sentence.
Example: "If ye are righteous, then lo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn (unto Him)." (17:25)