Argumentation in Imru' al-Qays's Dalya Poem: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Imru' al-Qays is considered a pre-Islamic poet from Najd. His father, Hujr ibn Amr al-Kindi, was the king of Kinda. His son was known for his frivolity during certain periods of his life. Most of his poetry was driven by emotion, encompassing themes of heroism, description, and others. During the conflict with the Banu Asad, his emotions led him to reveal the strength of the Kinda, demonstrating their ability to defeat and punish them. His resentment towards the Banu Asad became widespread, and his poems about them were widely circulated among the Arabs. A study of his Dal-inspired poem reveals the argumentative nature of some of its verses. This argumentation is evident in the use of conditional clauses, repetition, and inversion, along with the deployment of simile and metaphor. All these elements contribute to the argumentative character of the text, which serves the poet in portraying the strength of Kinda and showcasing their military capabilities, equipment, and manpower to deter the Asad. This study stems from the following question: What types of argumentation are employed in Imru' al-Qays's poem? And what is their effect within the poem?

The importance of this study lies in revealing the role of argumentation in literary texts, especially in poetry. Imru' al-Qays's poem is replete with several argumentative techniques, and without them, those verses would not have achieved their masterful composition, elegant structure, and high-quality verse. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to trace the argumentation in his poem ending in the letter "dal," analyze its significance, and elucidate its function.