Civilizational Perspective on Literary Genres (A comparison between the origins of literary genres among Arabs and their Western counterparts)

Abstract

The subject of this research is the influence of historical and civilizational factors on the emergence and development of literary genres, and on the similarity or difference between their forms and characteristics in the Arab cultural environment compared to their counterparts The in the Western cultural environment. The research addressed this topic cognitively from a cultural and civilizational perspective, relying on a comparative historical approach, examining the factors influencing the emergence of literary genres and directing their characteristics, and explaining the similarities and differences that occur between literary genres among Arabs and their counterparts among Westerners. The research reached a pivotal conclusion: literary criticism must take into account the cultural specificity of literary genres. It must not demand that Arab poets ignore the merits of Arabic poetry in order to identify with the poetry of other nations, nor should they be asked to belittle ancient Arabic narrative achievement on the pretext that it does not meet the conditions upon which the modern story is based. Rather, it must believe in its uniqueness and the value of its literary heritage within the framework of that uniqueness. It also believes in the interaction of civilizations and is keen to benefit from various forms of literature in a way that does not harm the aesthetic and human values that distinguish the nation to which it belongs.