The prevalence of proverbs in Arabic discourse and an analytical study of poetry

Abstract

The paper is a comprehensive and analytical study of the use of proverbs in Arabic language and literature especially in their poetry. Proverbs in Arabic literary tradition are not considered simple linguistic embellishments but as profound expressions of thought and culture. Proverbs and their role in presenting the moral principles, social consciousness and cultural values of Arab society have played a central role in Arab society from the pre Islamic up to modern period. In this research we discuss proverbs linguistically and terminologically as well as distinguish them from idioms and in detail discuss their poetic usage. In the first part spotlighted high prevalence of proverbs in Arab society and its role in daily life, tribal judgments, warfare and peace negotiations and moral instruction. The second section shows instances from the works of the well known Arab poets: Zuhayr ibn Abi Sulma, Labid and Imru’ alQais in which proverbs enrich one metre of poetry and the profundity of the meaning. Analysis shows how proverbs in Arabic poetry enrich literary style and at the same time, how they embody human experience, wisdom and philosophical thought. The study also studies the symbolic, political and the philosophical use of proverbs in the modern Arabic poetry. Also, the use of proverbs in Urdu poetry is briefly compared to the way proverbs are used in Urdu and the thematic similarities between Arabic and Urdu proverbial expressions are briefly compared. Conclusions are made that proverbs act as a necessary bridge between literature, language and society, a still important aspect in academia, education and culture.

Keywords: Arabic Proverbs, Arabic Poetry, Rhetoric and Expression, Wisdom and Philosophy, Analytical Study, Classical and Modern Literature, Comparative Literature