الملحمة في الأدب العربي

The Epic in Arabic literature

Abstract

The subject of the "epic" represents one of the complex critical issues in Arabic literary studies, given its connection to an imported concept that took shape in different cultural contexts and was then re-employed within the Arabic tradition through comparison and interpretation. In its Western origin, the epic was associated with a long narrative poetic form based on collective heroism, blending history with myth. This has led to widespread debate among critics and scholars regarding its Arabic equivalent. In light of this complexity, this research sought to trace the concept of "epic" in ancient Arabic literature and uncover its earliest meanings. In its earliest usages, it did not denote a distinct literary genre, but rather was associated with the prediction of future events and occurrences, as seen in the works of al-Jahiz and others. Hence, the central question of this research is the extent of the epic's presence in Arabic literature: Did the Arabs know this art form in its precise, technical sense, or does what appears in their heritage merely consist of partial manifestations or forms closely related to it? To answer this issue, the research presents the positions of Arab critics on this matter, as their opinions varied between those who completely denied the existence of the epic, those who confused it with heroic poetry, and those who tried to prove its existence in incomplete forms or 'fragmented pieces.' In this context, the research highlights prominent examples of these positions, such as Suleiman Al-Bustani, Taha Hussein, Al-Rafi'i, and others, explaining their theoretical foundations and their arguments in interpreting the absence of the epic or proving its existence. The research also examines the factors that contributed to the lack of development of the epic genre in Arabic literature, whether related to the nature of Arabic poetry, which is based on brevity and improvisation, or to the absence of a mythological structure, or to the specificities of the social and cultural environment. While, the research does not neglect to identify partial epic features in some poetic texts, as well as the presence of the epic in folklore through long tales. Accordingly, this research is organized into major sections, beginning with defining the concept of the epic in Arabic heritage, then presenting the critics’ positions toward it, and finally analyzing the reasons for its absence and the manifestations of its partial presence, as a prelude to deriving a comprehensive critical perspective that clarifies the nature of this genre and its limits in Arabic literature.