The Impact of Poetic Traditions on Directing Early Arab Criticism Until the End of the Third Hijri Century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.11080Keywords:
Poetic traditions, poetic meanings, poetic choices, Al-Asma'i, Al-Jahiz, Ibn Qutaybah.Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to clarify the impact of poetic traditions on classical Arabic criticism up to the end of the third century AH. It focuses on their role in shaping general aesthetic taste, evaluating and judging poetry, establishing the dialogue between ancient and modern poets, and ultimately their contribution to the methodological foundations of criticism, both in formulating critical theories and in practical critical efforts.
Methods: The research relied on an inductive approach to analyze texts and works from the critical literature until the end of the third century AH to understand the role of poetic traditions. The study was historically divided into three significant stages in which poetic traditions played a foundational role in guiding criticism: the first stage of early critical narratives from the pre-Islamic period to the late first century AH; the second stage involving the criticism of transmitters and linguists until the end of the second century; and the third stage of methodological criticism during the third century.
Results: The study found that poetic traditions were present in the first stage as latent legacies in the minds of those who transmitted these narratives. In the second stage, it revealed that the codification of language enabled scholars to reconcile the linguistic and artistic value of ancient poetry, leading to the preference of ancient over modern poetry and the establishment of poetic selections. In the third century, traditions led to the emergence of precise classification of poetic meanings and the beginning of systematic research into the characteristics of poetry.
Conclusion: The study concluded that poetic traditions played a significant role in guiding the movement of Arabic criticism until the end of the third century AH, closely connecting with its central theories, key issues, and practical applications.
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