Early Arabic Poetry: Select Poems

By Dr Alan Jones

Hardback

580 pp

235 x 155

Ithaca Press

ISBN: 978-0-86372-387-2

October 2011

As is often the case with oral literature, we know nothing of the origins of Arabic poetry. The first surviving pieces, from the beginning of the sixth century, are fully developed, and the period from then till the second quarter of the seventh century was remarkable for the amount and quality of the poetry that was composed. In later times it was acknowledged as the zenith of Arabic poetic composition, notable for its many masterpieces.

The text itself comprises two main sections: section one contains a study of fifteen poems from two of the more vivid genres: laments and poems by the outlaws, the latter including the magnificent, brooding Lāmiyyat al-‘Arab; whilst section two focuses on famous odes, such as the Mu‘allaqāt of Imru’ ul-Qays, Labīd and ‘Abīd, the Kāfiyya of Zuhayr and the Marthiya of Abu Dhu’ayb. The poems are analysed in minute detail, providing the student with all the information needed to understand the texts and the accompanying translations, and then to consider each poem’s overall thrust and purpose.

About the author

Alan Jones taught Arabic, Turkish and Islamic Studies at Oxford from 1957 to 2000, when he retired from his post as Professor of Classical Arabic. Amongst his special interests are pre-Islamic poetry, the Qur’ān, and the early growth of Islamic studies. He has also published key works on the poetry of Muslim Spain. His translation of the Qur’ān was published in 2007.