The manifestations of the high places motifs in Nabati poetry and ancient Arabic poetry: A comparative approach

Abstract

Objectives: One of the main objectives of this study was to analyze the high places in the motifs found in Nabati poetry of the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore, this study traced these motifs and tried to track their connection to ancient Arabic poetic and cultural roots. By applying several anthropological and philosophical approaches, this study aimed to explore the psychological and social symbolic connotations of the high places in Nabati poetry and ancient Arabic poetry. Method: This study applied several anthropological and philosophical approaches, such as Arnold Van Gennep’s concept of rite of passage, Mary Douglas’s concept of purity and danger, and Immanuael Kant’s concept of the sublime. The study dealt with a set of verses and poems from Nabati poetry in Arabian Peninsula that belongs to the 18^th and 19^th century in addition to several verses from ancient Arabic poetry. Results: The results showed that the motifs of the high places in Nabati poetry represent a unique state of isolation that allows the poets to express their psychological and social intentions. Conclusion: The study was concluded with a summary of the poetic context in which the motifs of the high places appear, in addition to the main reasons and motives behind their appearance.