Images of Semantic Deviation in the Poetry of Al-Afwah Al-Awdi

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the phenomenon of semantic deviation in the poetry of al-Afwah al-Awdi through its rhetorical manifestations, including simile, metaphor, metonymy, and figurative expression. It explores how the poet employs semantic deviation in his diwan to generate innovative imagery and suggestive meanings that enrich the poetic text and enhance its aesthetic impact. The study adopts a stylistic approach to uncover the additional meanings and connotations produced through deviation, demonstrating that the poet does not confine himself to the literal meanings of words, but transcends them into evocative semantic spaces that create surprise and disrupt the reader’s horizon of expectation. This, in turn, elevates the level of poeticity in his texts and reflects a conscious awareness of constructing poetic imagery across multiple levels. The significance of the study lies in highlighting how semantic deviation contributes to deepening al-Afwah al-Awdi’s poetic experience and linking it to an aesthetic dimension that surpasses conventional expression. The findings indicate that his poetry represents an advanced model in the effective use of semantic deviation to produce innovative images that express cultural values and meanings, thereby underscoring his distinctiveness among the poets of his era.