Beyond the Text: A Transtextual Analysis of Gibran Kalil Gibran’s poem “On Children” By,Ayatalla Mahmoud Moheb Ali,,, Assistant Lecturer, Department of English, Nile University

This paper investigates the occurrences of transtextuality in Gibran's prose poem "On Children" from his book The Prophet (1923).The study applies Gerard Genette's framework, which includes five different types: intertextuality, paratextuality, metatextuality, archtextuality, and hypertextuality.The paper presents a qualitative-quantitative analysis, and its findings reveal the usage of the five categories with different occurrences.Gibran employed the five types with distinctive frequencies; moreover, there is variation in the kinds of texts that influenced his language use and choices.The analysis demonstrates that transtextual references occur extensively throughout the poem, with multiple interactions emerging in nearly every line, thereby reinforcing the depth of Gibran's textual construction and its multilayered potential for meaning.The findings further indicate that the poem draws on diverse cultural, religious, and philosophical traditions -including Biblical texts, the Qur'an, Sufi thought, and global philosophical schools -reflecting Gibran's hybrid cultural identity and intellectual background.Such diversity in textual interaction not only shapes the poem's ideological stance but also contributes to its universal resonance and its capacity to transcend historical and cultural boundaries.The study sheds light on Gibran's use of literary techniques in his writings and shows how his cultural background influences his choices and textual construction.Additionally, the analysis reveals a highly significant use of transtextuality per line throughout the entire poem, confirming the universality of Gibran's book The Prophet and justifying its continuous appeal over the past century.