Literary arts

What are the purposes of pre-Islamic poetry?

Pre-Islamic poetry items

The purposes and topics of pre-Islamic poetry were many, as follows:

  • Pride poetry: If the poet’s purpose in his poetry is to take pride in himself or his people.
  • Praise poetry: If the poet's purpose in his poetry was to admire someone, and he wrote about one of his good qualities.
  • Satire poetry: If the poet's purpose in his poetry is to harm, degrade, and disparage someone.
  • Elegy poetry: If the poet's purpose in his poetry was to show sadness and pain over the loss of someone.
  • Hair Description: If the poet's purpose in his poetry is to soar the imagination, draw wonderful pictures, and embody them in his poetry.
  • Wisdom poetry: If the poet's purpose in his poetry is to look at the universe and people's lives.
  • Apology poetry: If the poet's purpose in his poetry was to seek sympathy from one of the people and ask for forgiveness.
  • Poetry: If the poet's purpose in his poetry is to describe women, praise them, and express his feelings towards them.

Characteristics of pre-Islamic poetry

Among the most important characteristics of pre-Islamic poetry, which distinguished it from other poetry, are the following:

  • Bedouin character: Pre-Islamic poetry is considered a mirror of the reality of that era and the aspects of ancient Arab life in it. It dealt in precise detail with the Bedouin life represented by its nature, of mountains, long roads, and green pastures, as it did not leave any aspect of Bedouin life without mentioning it and depicting it accurately.
  • Realism and clarity: Realism is considered one of the most important features of pre-Islamic poetry. He derived his material from life and the surrounding environment, and depicted them in simple images without exaggeration or complexity. Pre-Islamic poetry has clear meanings and a language that indicates sophistication and clarity of mind, not tinged with philosophizing or ambiguity. It was also appropriate to common sense and harmonious with the nature of Bedouin society.
  • Frequent photography: This feature appeared clearly in pre-Islamic poetry, as the pre-Islamic poet was keen to describe situations in their smallest details, giving a complete picture, as if he were drawing an artistic painting with its small details. If this indicates anything, it indicates their art, the accuracy of their expression, and the fertility of their imagination.

The most famous pre-Islamic poets

We mention below some of the pre-Islamic poets:

Read also:Diwan Abu Firas al-Hamdani
  • Imru' al-Qays.
  • Zuhair bin Abi Salma.
  • Tarfa bin Al-Abd.
  • Amr bin Kulthum.
  • Antara Al-Absi.
Previous
An essay on women's work
Next
Essay on the importance of trees