Copyright
Adnan HaydarPublished On
2025-02-06Page Range
pp. 9–24Language
- English
Print Length
16 pages
1. Terms and Methodology
- Adnan Haydar (author)
Chapter of: New Words to Old Tunes: Genres and Metrics of Lebanese Zajal Poetry(pp. 9–24)
The opening chapter introduces the topic of Lebanese Zajal and its practitioners, starting with the definition and etymology of basic terms in both the Hispano-Arabic context and the Lebanese tradition necessary for the metrical analysis that follows. The method used in the scansion of zajal meters is spelled out, highlighting the role of music and chorus in proper scansion of lines. A strong argument is made for the inclusion of stress in scansion, which, historically, has been overlooked.
Contributors
Adnan Haydar
(author)Head of the Arabic section in the department of world languages, literatures, and cultures and professor of Arabic and comparative literature at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Adnan Haydar is head of the Arabic section in the department of world languages, literatures, and cultures and professor of Arabic and comparative literature at the University of Arkansas, where he also founded and directed the King Fahd Middle East Studies Center from 1993 to 1999. His fields of specialization and areas of teaching include modern and classical Arabic literature, Arabic language, folk literature, and oral poetry. He has authored, co-authored and co-edited eight books, and is co-editor of the translation series for Syracuse University Press. His many articles on modern literary theory and oral poetry have appeared in premier literary journals.