Stylistic Analysis of Indoctrination in English and Arabic Didactic Poetry

Ashwaq Sukkar Khayoon

Vol. 18, Jul-Dec 2024

Abstract:

The research explores indoctrination within English and Arabic didactic poetry from a stylistic perspective, focusing on two poems of Rudyard Kipling`s If in English and Al Mua`llaqa of the pre-Islamic poet Zuhair Ibn Abi Salma in Arabic. Peter Verdonk's (2002) model is adopted this study. The study aims to explore the linguistic intricacies employed by these poets to sendindoctrinative messages and manifest moral lessons within this didactic text type. By concentrating on the indoctrination component of Verdonk’s(2002) model, the research attempts to explore how linguistic choices contribute to the persuasive and instructional aspects of these poems. The study reveals that the English poem has a higher lexical density and reliance on verbs of indoctrinative illocution while the Arabic poem has a higher number of nouns to convey indoctrination as a process. It can also be seen that both poems provide indoctrination on how to deal with life's obstacles and make moral choices. Indoctrination is presented following distinct cultural viewpoints and with various degrees of centering on thematic development.

Back Download