The Camel Image in the Poetry of Two Pre-Islamic Poets : An Artistic Comparative study
Abstract
This paper tackles the dimensions of the image of camel in the light of its thematic, psychological and emotional aspects as handled by two Arab poets (Al-Muthaqqib Al-Abdi) and (Al-Asha). The paper concludes that both poets have given their she-camels the best attributes of beauty and strength that amount to a mythological level. Al-Ashas lexicon in this respect has been richer than that of his counterpart. Both poets derived for their images elements from the animate and inanimate nature and from their respective civilized environments. The thematic frome of the camels journey acquired hostile aspects for both poets, at a time the movement of the camel suggested a human side for Al-Muthaqqib which it did not for Al-Asha. The riding of the camel for both poets was a means to pass time and abridging time and distance to arrive at their destination, while the shape of the camels movement was related to the image of hunt which established an artistic ambivalence to the fears and worries of both poets for their camel. Toconclude, Al-Muthaqqib was more sympathetic than Al-Asha toward his camel as the latter used to downgrade and ridicule his camel to please those he praised.