A General Overview of Arabic Prose: Definition, Prose and Poetry, and Types

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Introduction

Arabic literature is renowned for its richness and diversity, comprising two main fields: poetry and prose. While poetry often steals the spotlight with its lyrical verses and intricate structures, Arabic prose holds its own significance as a platform for scholars to display their literary skills and insights. This article provides a detailed exploration of Arabic prose, focusing on its definition, differences from poetry, and various kinds.

Arabic Prose Defined

Arabic prose is a crucial aspect of Arabic literature, encompassing two main divisions. The first division is common prose, which includes everyday language used in conversations, with few literary elements such as maxims, aphorisms, and parables. The second division is artistic prose, where authors employ artistic, rhetoric, and adept language in their compositions. This type of prose is patronized and researched by literary critics for its depth and complexity. It includes forms such as stories (short or long), novels, literary treatises, and ornate historical writings.

Difference between Arabic Prose and Poetry

While Arabic prose and poetry share thematic functions, they differ significantly in their composition. Poetry adheres to rules and regulations such as meters and rhyme schemes, following the standards set by Al-Khalil bin Ahmad Al-Farahidi. In contrast, prose is free from the shackles of meters and rhyme, allowing for easier composition and greater patronage of literati. Additionally, while poets can bend grammatical rules, such manipulations may render prose substandard. 

Kinds of Arabic Prose

Arabic prose can be divided into five main kinds:

- Treatise or Article: A treatise is a detailed exploration of a topic, where a writer gathers theories and arranges them with proofs to arrive at a particular result. It may be subjective or objective, but it must be clear, concise, and free of logical and philological errors. The literary treatise is particularly challenging to compose and is classified into two schools: conservative and modernistic.

- Elocution/Oratory: This form of prose is grounded in logic and rhetoric. A skillful orator uses reason and logic to persuade an audience about the appositeness of a particular view. There are various kinds of oratory, including political, military, social, religious, and judicial oratories.

- Letter/Epistle: In this form, a writer transmits ideas, feelings, and emotions through writing, serving as a means of communication and strengthening bonds of relationship. An eloquent writer of a letter considers the situation and nature of the relationship with the recipient. It includes informal letters, secretarial writing, and lengthy epistles.

- Story: A collection of imaginary happenings in the life of man, derived from factual life occurrences. It serves as a means of entertainment and teaching moral values, as well as correcting social malaises. Stories may be long or short, with the latter focusing on one particular idea or experience in a specific time and place setting.

- Drama: A dramatized story for viewers, focusing on conversation, dialogue, and critical depiction of drama characters. Drama is divided into tragedy and comedy and was introduced to the Arab world in the 19th century, influenced by European drama.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Arabic prose is a vital field in Arabic literature, alongside poetry. While both serve as platforms for scholars to exhibit their literary skills, prose is more accessible to a larger number of scholars due to its easier composition. Unlike poetry, which is bound by rules of form, such as meters and rhyme, prose allows for greater freedom of expression. Arabic prose encompasses various forms, including treatises, oratories, letters, stories, and drama, each serving as a unique medium for human expression and literary exploration.