Tears in the Poetry of Al-Mutanabbi: A Psychological Study

Abstract

This study investigates the significance of tears in the poetry of Al-Mutanabbi, focusing on how they are utilized across his works. The primary question guiding the research is: How did Al-Mutanabbi incorporate tears into his poems? From this central inquiry, the study delves into related questions: What symbolic meanings do tears convey in his poetry? and How are poetic themes connected to the use of tears? The research is organized into an introduction, a preface, two main sections, and a conclusion. The first section explores the presence of tears across different poetic themes, beginning with their structural role within individual poems and moving on to the themes that elicit tears. The second section, titled Tears in the Poetry of Al-Mutanabbi: An Applied Study, provides an in-depth analysis of one of his poems to demonstrate how tears contribute to its structure and reveal the poet’s psychological state. The analysis shows that nasīb (themes of longing and romantic love) is the most frequent setting for tears, with Al-Mutanabbi often depicting separation from a beloved. Additionally, the study emphasizes how the poet maintains a delicate balance between emotional intensity and personal composure throughout his expressions of love.