Arabic Poetry: Trajectories of Modernity and Tradition

Notes

PREFACE

1Abn‘Allal->asan Ibn Rashlq (d. 1064) quoting Ibn ‘Abbms, Al-‘Umdah flma.msin
al-shi‘r wa-mdmbih wa-naqdih(The Pillar Regarding Poetry’s Embellishments,
Proper Usage, and Criticism) (Beirut: Al-Maktabah al-‘Axriyyah, 2001), p. 20.
2 Quoted in Robert Scholes, Semiotics and Interpretation(New Haven, CT and
London: Yale University Press, 1982), p. 47.
3 Cited in Jonathan Culler, “On the Negativity of Modern Poetry: Friedrich,
Baudelaire, and the Critical Tradition,” in Languages of the Unsayable: The Play
of Negativity in Literature and Literary Theory, eds Sanford Budick and Wolfgang
Iser (New York: Columbia University, 1989), p. 193.
4Ma.mnd Darwlsh, Memory of Forgetfulness, August, Beirut, 1982, trans., Ibrahim
Muhawi (Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1995),
p. 193.
5 Not coincidently, the tenth century also witnessed the growth of Arabic geo-
graphical literature, and the emergence of a masmliksubgenre. Classical Arabic
literary criticism devotes a great deal to spatial tropes, and uses maslak, plural
masmlik, in reference to both modes and themes. They say such and such a poet
salka maslakan wa‘ran, meaning he poetically follows a cumbersome path. See
especially Is.mq Ibn Ibrmhlm Ibn Wahb al-Kmtib (after 335/946–947), Al-Baymn
flwujnh al-Qur’mn, known as Naqd al-nathr. He suggests as a prerequisite for
being a poet good knowledge of other poets and poetry, to be acquainted with
“masmlika al-shu‘arm’ wa-madhmhibahum wa-taxarrufahum, fa-ya.tadhlmanmhi-
jahum wa-yasluka sabllahum” (to know poets’ tracks, their schools or attitudes
and their manner, to follow their methods and continue their path). He adds,
“idhmlam yajtami’ lahndhmlika” (if this does not come together, or configure;
that is, if not achieved) he has to stop laying claim to poetry. As for the masmlik
in Arabic geographical literature, the best is Ignati Iulianovch Krachkovski,
Istoria Arabskoi Geograficheskoi Literatury(Arabic translation, Beirut: Dmr al-Gharb,
Second Printing, 1987), pp. 212–35.

1 POETIC TRAJECTORIES: CRITICAL INTRODUCTION

1 See Ibn Rashlq (d. 1064) quoting Ibn ‘Abbms, Al-‘Umdah flma.msin al-shi‘r
wa-mdmbih wa-naqdih(The Pillar regarding poetry’s embellishments, proper
usage, and criticism), p. 20.