Arabic Literary Criticism in Pre-Islamic Period

Abstract

Abstract

ature began planting its seeds in Arabian soil two hundred years before the advent of Islam.Arabic literature sprang into existence with an outburst of poetry. Arabic poetry has been recognized as register of Arabs and a mirror of Arabian life. Poetry is the greatest source of Arabic Knowledge and the most delightful part of Arabic literature.The literary criticism is broadly used to cover the whole field of literary appreciation, analysis, judgment and the comparison on the practical as well as the theoretical side. The period of criticism in Arabic literature extends from the Pre-Islamic to the present time. Arabs achieved a high measure of perfection in their poetry tow century before the advent of Islam. The miraculous sign of Islam came in the form of ?Clear Arabic Book? was destined to play an important role in Arabic language and consequently in the enrichment of Arabic literary criticism. The Arabs were noted for their literary excellence. Poetry and Oratory were the mass level forms of their artistic expression. In Pre- Islamic era, when Arabic poetry was in its flowering period, some rudimentary form of practical criticism had appeared. The history of Arabic literary criticism indicates the immensity of its wealth and difficulties of spreading the Arab contribution in this field. The aim of this paper is to discuss the origin, development and significance of literary criticism in pre-Islamic period. This paper also highlights the trendsand functions of literary criticism that occurred in classical Arabic poetr