Completion of Meter: A Study in the Aesthetics of Padding

Abstract

Meter represents the fundamental element in Arabic poetry, bestowing upon it its beauty and elegance. Given that the metrical structure is characterized by specific discipline, it was natural for this constraint to pose a pressure on the poet. Critics have recognized the impact of this pressure, gauging the poet's skill through their ability to overcome it. They also explored the structures resulting from this pressure, including the structure of padding (ḥashw). Therefore, I decided to dedicate my research to studying this structure and how it is produced as a result of metrical pressure. Critics divided this production into three categories, and I have adopted this division in my research. I began by presenting an introduction that clarifies the effectiveness of meter in poetic production, and then I organized the research into an introduction and three sections (maṭālib). The first section was devoted to models of aesthetic invocation, while the second section dealt with models of negative invocation. As for the final section, it was dedicated to models of empty invocation. In conclusion, I presented a summary that addressed the most important findings of the research. I followed an analytical approach aimed at exploring the impact of padding on the aesthetic level. Although padding may be necessary for metrical purposes, it is also linked to the connotations of the text and enhances them, thereby contributing to the deepening of its dimensions.