Abstract
Al-Khansa’ is the most celebrated poetess of eulogy (marthiyya) in Arabic literature. Nineteenth-century Arab critics assigned al-Khansa’ to secondary status in the hierarchy of Arab poets, yet she perfected the inherited forms and themes of traditional elegies by adding new expressions, emotions and imagery. Her elegies about her brothers and children demonstrate a marked shift in emotions and imageries from previous elegies. Her eulogy for her two brothers a blood brother Mu’awiya and a half-brother Sakhr, both killed in skirmishes with rival neighboring tribes are characterized by their pagan metaphors and brought her much fame. After Mu’awiya’s death in a raid, al-Khansa’ beseeched Sakhr to take vengeance on the offending tribe. Sakhr successfully defeated the tribe and killed his brother’s murderers, but he was fatally wounded in the battle. Al-khansa’s focus on Sakhr in her elegies could be attributed to his generosity, for he shared his wealth with his sister on multiple occasions when her husband had squandered his money on gambling. Sakhr had suffered for a year before he died. The poems al-Khansa’ wrote during that year and the elegies she wrote after his death are same of the finest elegies in Arabic literature.
Dr Abdul Rehman Yousaf Khan, Dr Abdul Ghaffor Baloch, Khalil ur Rehman Baksh. (2016) The Life And Poetry Al-Khansa (R.A): An Analysis, Karoonjhar Research Journal, Volume-14, Issue-1.
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