The Commitment Trend in the Poetry of Khalil Zaqtan

Abstract

This research introduces an artistic trend that emerged in contemporary Arabic poetry: commitment. Its subject is an exploration of the literary value in the poetry of Khalil Zaqtan. The fervor of commitment is evident in his unpublished poetic works, which include poems inspired by Palestinian and Arab tragedy, reflecting the poet's complete commitment to human, national, and Arab unity concepts. Thus, Khalil Zaqtan's poetry serves as a meaningful message, a service to his homeland, and a reflection of the issues of his society, expressing their desires, inclinations, and aspirations in simple language and realistic imagery. The circumstances of the time provided Khalil Zaqtan with intellectual awareness and thematic maturity, with the clearest manifestation being his focus on the values of beauty, truth, and goodness in his poetry. Therefore, this research aims to understand the thoughts and perspectives of the poet Khalil Zaqtan towards poetry by analyzing the commitment in his poetry as an artistic path of expression, seeking to elucidate its echoes and manifestations while attempting to comprehend its dimensions. According to this, the researchers utilize the data of the realistic approach in light of the theory of social interpretation to subtly address and pursue the research material and to keep pace with the description of the commitment phenomenon and link its dimensions. As the poems depict the catastrophe of Palestine, the displacement of its people and their suffering in refugee camps, and glorify the Arab nation, and praise its characteristics and authentic qualities. Therefore, the research will attempt to elucidate the features of commitment in unpublished poetic works and establish its presence, embodied in the realistic features of the poet confining his thoughts and feelings to the reality of his people and nation. The research will also present poetic texts that align with the philosophy of commitment, aiming to engage the poet in the issues of his era, the problems of his homeland, and his nation. As a result, the research concluded that Khalil Zaqtan's poetic works are extracted from reality and depict aspects of Arab and Palestinian life. In summary, his poetry did not follow the experimental artistic approach because, in his view, poetic experience had no intrinsic value apart from its purposes or external requirements.