A Critical Study of Themes in the Poetic Imageries Used by Abul Ghasem Shabi

Poetic imagery is an inseparable art of poetry; the poet uses poetic imagery to transfer his themes in an expressible and tangible form to its readers. This way, he clarifies his feelings and emotions to the readers. The study of poetic imagery indicates the ability of the poet in creating new concepts, producing spiritual and abstract themes in new forms, and giving life to inanimate objects. The more harmonious, stronger, and expressive the poetic imageries are the more coherent are the poems. More than any other literary schools, the Romantic poets employ poetic imagery. This can be traced in Shabi's works, who represents the Arabic Romantic School. Critics study the poetic imageries from the perspectives of structure and theme. However, the present article starts by providing an introductory discussion of the concept of imagery along with its features in contemporary Arabic poetry. This is followed by a thematic study of poetic imageries in Shabi's poems. This way, the poet's perspective in representing his themes becomes comprehensible and would show how the poet has succeeded in expressing concepts and feelings to the addressee. Shabi's poems refer to themes of death, love, sorrow, people, society and so forth. This could be seen clearly in the themes employed in poetic imageries which is in accord with the School he represents. On the other hand, a point to consider in relation to the poetic imageries used in Shabi's poems signify that nature and its adapted elements play an important part in expressing most of the imageries.