Nostalgia and Cultural Identity in the Poetry of Sheikh Jaafar

Abstract

The phenomenon of nostalgia_longing for the past_is by no means a recent development in Arabic literature. Extant classical texts suggest that the essence of this concept was well-recognized by critics; while the modern terminology and formal definitions are products of Western critical influence, the core substance has always been inherently present in the Arabic tradition.

​          We can trace the conceptual roots of this phenomenon across the spectrum of Arabic poetry, from the Pre-Islamic (Jahili) era to the modern age. In the Jahili period, nostalgia was intrinsically linked to the 'Atlal' (standing over the ruins). Through this poetic topos, the poet immortalized the memories of desert dwellers, awakening their emotions and evoking bygone days, kin, and beloved ones. These ruins represent deep-seated memories etched into the Arab poet’s imagination, and the act of 'standing over the ruins' serves as a profound expression of yearning for one's homeland and origins.