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Re: Sergei to A. Bouazza on Arabic poetry
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In a message dated 05/11/2006 16:46:58 GMT Standard Time,
NABOKV-L@HOLYCROSS.EDU writes:
when I mentioned arabic poetry, I wanted to emphasize the
point that the discussion about poetic qualities of PF and
distinction between verse ant poetry in this list does not take into
account the context of the novel in case of PF, and concerning
the verse versus poetry - historic
and cultural context. It seems that most fervent defence
of this distinction is itself based on some unconsious prejudices,
for example, some heritage of romanticism. I don't say
that there is no distinction, but are we able to judge along these lines
what was written not in our times?
I was interested some years ago in arabic poetry (only I don't
read in arabic, I've seen russian translations), I remember
for example a very interesting book about Al Mouttanabi
(sorry if it is not correct spelling in english), and some
very beautiful fragments of poems. I don't see how most
of the participants of this list could judge it. And even if
it would be in their own language, but of different epoch
and forgotten genre...
Sergei,
Johnson's answer to Boswell about poetry precedes Romanticism; and the
discussion about whether or not Pope wrote poetry must have been actual well
before Romanticism had properly arisen. I concede that a distinction between
poetry and verse may not have been fully formalized in the C18th, but there must
have been some sort of conceptualization of what was poetry and what not.
Shakespeare produced quite a graphic pen-sketch of the archetypal poet.
I very much take your point that PF the poem has to be judged in its book
context. Would it have attracted any interest had it been published without
footnotes? Possible, but doubtful.
Wikipedia confirms that my memory of flyting was correct. It looks as though
this entry could do with some expansion, perhaps from A.Bouazza? It should
be reasonably possible to make a comparative evaluation of the quality of one
flyting against another.
Charles.
See following:
Flyting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flyting is a contest of insults, often conducted in verse.
In _Norse_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_countries) and _Germanic
cultures_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germans) , flytings are used as either a
prelude to battle or as a form of combat in their own right. The exchange is
regular, if not ritualized, and the insults usually center on accusations of
cowardice or sexual impropriety or perversion. Several poems of _Norse
Mythology_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_Mythology) contain many flytings
or consist solely of flytings, including the Eddic poem _Lokasenna_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokasenna) , wherein _Loki_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loki) insults the Norse gods.
Flytings existed in _Arabic poetry_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry) in a popular form called naqa'id; they were also common in _16th
century_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century) _Scottish poetry_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scottish_poetry&action=edit) . Flyting is
similar in both form and function to the modern _African American_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American) practice of _the dozens_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dozens) .
See also: _Freestyle battle_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_battle)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Quill_and_ink.png) This _poetry_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry) -related article is a _stub_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Perfect_stub_article) . You can _help_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Find_or_fix_a_stub) Wikipedia by _expanding it_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flyting&action=edit) .
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