Myth in the Poetry of Ahmad Zaki Abu Shadi

Abstract

Ahmad Zaki Abu Shadi was a poet and one of the pioneers of the Apollo School in modern Arabic poetry. This study aims to elucidate the functions of myth and the techniques through which it is employed as both a structural and semantic element in Abu Shadi’s poetry. Using content analysis, the author examines the typology of the myths employed in his works, including Greek, Egyptian, and Eastern myths. The study demonstrates that Abu Shadi did not merely reproduce ancient narratives; rather, by integrating them with lived experience and contemporary concerns, he generated new meanings and deepened the semantic layers of his poetry. The findings indicate that myth in Abu Shadi’s poetry functions not only as a means of enhancing aesthetic expression and poetic imagination, but also as an overarching metaphor through which concepts such as identity, freedom, love, and death are articulated. It further operates as a reflection of the internal and external conflicts experienced by modern humanity. Ultimately, the present article emphasizes that mythopoesis in Abu Shadi’s poetry, as a link between ancient heritage and poetic modernism, contributed to the enrichment of Arabic literature and to the universality of the poet’s message.