International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature

Rashid Al-Essa ¹, Sura M. Khrais ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Al-Balqa Applied University, Princess Alia University College, JO
2 Department of English Language and Literature, Al-Balqa Applied University, Princess Alia University College, JO

Abstract

This paper aims at studying the aspects of and the reasons behind the poet glorifying his poetry and, consequently, himself. The two examples chosen here are Al-Muttanabi, the famous Abbasid poet and Shakespeare, the Elizabethan poet. The researchers discuss the common features that distinguish the poetry of both poets especially in relation to the theme of glorification of poetry. This comparative study has chosen examples from Al-Mutanabbi's poetry (the Diwan; the collection of his poems) and Shakespeare's sonnets (18-126). The researchers have found out that the two poets glorify their poetry while praising an outstanding powerful character in order to make profit or gain a social status or a governmental position. Ironically speaking, they end up hinting at the fact that their poetic lines are immortal and only through their panegyric poetry the concerned patron is immortalized.

Keywords

Glorification of Poetry, Al-Mutanabbi's Panegyric Poetry and Shakespeare's Sonnets, Poetic Immortality, Verbal Prowess, The Poets' Patrons.

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