The Theory of Literary Genres and Arabic Literature

Abstract

This study explores the theory of literary genres as a critical framework for understanding and classifying literary texts. It highlights the presence and development of this theory within the legacy of Arabic literary criticism. The research is driven by a central question: Did classical Arab critics conceive of a theory of literary genres? And if not, what were the reasons behind this absence? Adopting a descriptive-analytical methodology, the study reviews a number of previous scholarly contributions on the subject. It concludes that the theory of literary genres is reflected in the Arab critical heritage on three levels: the affirmation of literary genres, generic awareness, and theorization or systematization. The study finds that generic awareness is the most prominent level achieved in classical Arabic criticism, as critics recognized the artistic differences between literary forms, although a comprehensive theoretical framework remained underdeveloped.