The Influence of the Damascene Environment on the Poetic Experience in the Diwan of Al-Wa'wa' Al-Dimashqi

Abstract

It is an analytical study of Al-Wa'wa' Al-Dimashqi's poetical experience initiated by qualification of elements of place in the poet's collection within seminars of the proper shape and simonize the evidences within distinctively separated word fields. The research adopted the analytical approach, which is based on analyzing poetic texts in light of their semantic, urban, psychological and artistic dimensions. The foundation for this research is that the themes, imagery and mood of al-Wa'wa's poetry were influenced by the environment of Damascus but did not describe it. The study has confirmed that the presence of the city within al-Wa'wa's poetry was conscious and partial, and also had a focus on aspects of urban life, including socialised aspects such as meetings and its related style of language. The results also showed that the streets of Damascus have a definite psychological effect, with a mood of quietude, calm, comfortable surroundings and a sense of a home-like atmosphere. Moreover, the environment also helped to influence the poet's poetic imagery, language, and vocabulary within this "prescribed" balance of the place and the rhetorical culture of the time.