The Poetic Image in the Epigram Poetry of Al-Asha

Abstract

This study aims to examine the poetic image in the epigram poetry of the pre-Islamic poet Al-A‘shā, with the objective of identifying the sources of these images and analyzing their constituent elements. The research adopts a descriptive inductive approach, alongside analytical and critical methodologies. The study is structured into an introduction, a preface, two main sections, and a conclusion. The introduction outlines the research objectives, questions, structure, literature review, and the methodology. The preface provides a definition and historical overview of the epigram as a poetic form, as well as an introduction to the concept of the poetic image. The first section investigates the sources of the poetic image in epigram poems, while the second section analyzes the elements that constitute these poetic images. The study yields several key findings, most notably: classical Arabic literature was familiar with the epigram as a poetic practice, even if it did not recognize it as a formal term. Pre-Islamic poets, including Al-A‘shā, composed many short poetic pieces that conform to the structural and thematic features of the epigram. Al-A‘shā demonstrated remarkable skill in employing poetic imagery to express a wide range of themes and purposes. Nature served as a primary and essential source for his imagery, providing most of the elements that shaped his poetic vision in the epigram. The influence of the Arab desert environment is clearly reflected in his choice of imagery, with domestic and wild animals, natural landscapes, and socio-cultural traditions all playing a prominent role in the construction of his poetic images.