The Theoretical Approach of Contemporary Arab Poets Toward Myth in Light of Salah Abdel Sabour’s Poetry

Abstract

This paper investigates the theoretical perspective of contemporary Arab poets toward myth, focusing on the poetry of Salah Abdel Sabour as a case study. It examines how myth has been conceptualized and employed within modern Arabic literature, drawing on both Arab and Western critical frameworks. The study is built on a literary-analytical methodology that reads Abdel Sabour’s poetic works in light of the mythic imagination, highlighting how mythological references enrich poetic meaning and intensify emotional expression. The research covers the definition of myth, the aesthetic and functional dimensions of the mythic approach, and its integration into poetic structure and modern Arab thought. Findings indicate that myth constitutes a core element of artistic creativity in contemporary Arabic poetry, offering poets a symbolic and psychological language to articulate their inner states. The study also underscores the influence of interdisciplinary frameworks—such as psychoanalysis, symbolism, comparative mythology, and religious and literary traditions—on the evolution of the mythic approach in modern Arabic criticism. By situating poetry within this broader mythopoetic and critical context, the research affirms myth’s enduring role as both a creative device and a tool of existential reflection in modern Arab poetic discourse.