أدب المهجر (Mahjar literature) refers to the literary movement created by Arab writers who emigrated from the Levant to the Americas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Prominent figures include Gibran Khalil Gibran, Mikhail Naimy, and Elia Abu Madi.
A defining characteristic of this literary school is الحنين إلى الوطن (nostalgia for the homeland). Living far from their native countries, these writers expressed deep longing for their homelands, their childhood memories, and the landscapes and traditions they left behind. This yearning permeates their poetry and prose, making it one of the most recognizable features of Mahjar literature.
The other options describe traits opposite to what Mahjar writers stood for:
الدفاع عن السلطة (defending authority) contradicts the Mahjar writers' tendency toward individualism and often critical stances toward political power.
التغني بالقوة (glorifying power/strength) was not a theme of their reflective, often melancholic writing.
الجفاف العاطفي (emotional dryness) is the exact opposite of their style, which was rich in emotion, spirituality, and romantic expression.
