The Image of the Horse as a linguistic icon in Imrau Alkays's and Antarah's Poetry: A semiotic Comparative Study

Abstract

This paper, entitled "The Image of the horse as a linguistic icon in Imrau Alkays's and Antarah's poetry: a semiotic comparative study," presents a modern semiotic critical reading of two poems by two well-known poets, namely Imrau Alkayes and Antarah. The aim of the paper is present a new approach to reading traditional Arabic poetry. The two poets experience nature and react to its natural images in their own ways. In the study, I apply a modern approach of semiotic analysis of some of the linguistic representations used by the two poets to describe their horses, explaining some of the hidden meanings associated with the image of the horse in the poets culture. The study shows a duel nature of the representations of the horse in their poetry, where images and descriptions of the horse can apply not only to the horse, but also to the feelings and attitudes of the horserider (the poets), and to the actions they are doing. The image of the horse becomes a cultural icon that adds new dimensions to the cultural meanings of that period. Both poets use the image of the horse as an icon to reflect their inner feelings, personal characterisitics, and intent for action.