French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Ouederni, Keys to Arabic Poetic Theory
Poetry and Poetics

Ahmed Ouederni, Keys to Arabic Poetic Theory

Paris: L'Harmattan, 2016.

134 p.

EAN 9782343100487

14.50 EUR

Publisher's Overview:

Discovering the primary critical concepts of the Arabs in the Middle Ages is inherently fascinating, and sure to captivate anyone interested in Arabic poetics. Building an essential bridge for literary theories and knowledge, the author delves into ancient traditions to demonstrate how modern criticism and textual practices are indebted to these illustrious Arab pioneers and trailblazers.

Ahmed Ouederni is a Tunisian academic, linguist, and translator.

This study situates medieval Arabic poetics within the broader history of literary criticism, highlighting the sophisticated analytical frameworks developed by classical Arab scholars during the Middle Ages. By examining key concepts of classical rhetoric, syntax, and poetic structure, Ahmed Ouederni traces the intellectual genealogy that connects these historical traditions to contemporary Western and Eastern textual practices. The book serves as an important bridge, demonstrating that many foundational ideas in modern linguistics and semiotics find their precursors in classical Arabic scholarship.

For researchers and students of comparative literature, translation studies, and Middle Eastern humanities, this volume offers a clear entry point into classical Arabic literary theory. It addresses critical questions about the cross-cultural transmission of knowledge and the evolution of textual analysis across centuries. By making these complex medieval concepts accessible to a modern audience, Ouederni provides linguists and literary theorists with the necessary tools to appreciate the enduring legacy of Arabic scholarship on global literary criticism.