A Critical Stylistic Analysis of a Poem in Lamenting Al-Imam Al-Hasan (peace be upon him)

Abstract

Language, as a means of communication, is a pivotal tool for influencing and persuading others as well as changing their ideologies and stances. This is the fulcrum of critical stylistics which addresses the issue of ideology in language. The present study, in this regard, is an attempt to pinpoint and set forth the sundry devices that manifest in a poem by Mehdi Janah Al-Khadimi in lamenting Al-Imam Al-Hasan (peace be upon him) and show how these devices reflect the ideology of the poet and contribute to the critical interpretation of the text. In other words, the study is based on the following research questions: (1) What is critical stylistics? (2) What are the obvious critical stylistic devices in the poem under perusal? (3) Are the lime lighted devices worthy for reflecting the poet's ideology and interpreting the poem critically?