Rhetorical Techniques in The Poem "Al- Sira Althatia Li-Saiaf Arabi" By the Poet Nizar Qabbani

Abstract

Poetry has long been an effective means of expressing ideas and emotions. Within poetry, rhetorical arts emerge as a way to enhance the poetic quality of texts, making them deeper and more impactful. Poems thus take on an artistic character, allowing poets to employ rhetorical arts in ways that touch the hearts of readers. The theme of poetic works often oscillate between social and political issues, presented in an artistic manner that highlights the beauty of the language and opens avenues for expressing opinions and visions. By examining the poem "The Autobiography of an Arab Executioner" by the poet Nizar Qabbani, which describes a dictatorial personality, we attempted to uncover and analyze the rhetorical arts used by this poet, and to demonstrate his rhetorical ability to depict the character of the dictator in a way that provokes reflection on the nature of authoritarian power. The study's methodology necessitated dividing the research into an introduction, a preface, and three sections. The preface provides a brief overview of the poet's life. The first section deals with issues of semantics in the poem "The Autobiography of an Arab Executioner." The second section addresses issues of rhetoric in the poem, and the third section discusses issues of stylistics in the poem. The conclusion includes the main findings and recommendations, followed by a bibliography. One of the most important findings is that the poet used rich language and artistic imagery to describe the dictatorial personality, his arrogant thinking, his elitist attitudes, and his authoritative language through the employment of rhetorical arts and the highlighting of poetic rhetorical images, such as simile and metaphor, to emphasize the authoritarian nature of the character. The poet successfully conveyed his message effectively, highlighting the oppression and repression characteristic of this regime.