Language:
Polish
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
Kwartalnik Historii Żydów
Angaben zur Quelle:
277 (2021) 197-239
Keywords:
Samuel,
;
Samuel, Literary style
;
Hebrew poetry History and criticism
;
Poetry, Medieval History and criticism
;
Metaphor in literature
;
Battles in literature
;
Apocalypse in literature
;
Andalusia (Spain)
Abstract:
In medieval Hebrew epic poetry, descriptions of battles are a rare phenomenon. Although in the Hebrew Bible many military conflicts are mentioned, one can hardly find any detailed description of the course of the battle or battle phases, for instance. Apocalyptic narratives are exceptional in this respect: the battle of the End of the Days preceding the final redemption is described there. Among the literary means, Biblical metaphors and comparisons are of the highest rank in the Hebrew poetry of the era known as the Golden Age of Hebrew culture in the medieval Al-Andalus. On the other hand, Jewish poets of that era were familiar with the Arab poetry of the neo-classical period, and possibly were influenced also by their poetic language. In this context one may pose the question what is the role of the apocalyptic means of expression employed by Ha-Nagid in his battle poem ʾEloah ʿoz: whether the aim of the author was to reflect the course of the battle or – more probably – to depict the drama of the military confrontation and to provide emotive meanings. Finally, however, one cannot resist the impression that the apocalyptic means of expression dominate the story described in the poem, creating a picture that goes beyond the description of that particular historical event. Consequently, one may venture a hypothesis that in Ha-Nagid’s poem we are dealing with a battle perceived as a link in the chain of events, leading to a final redemption of the Jewish people
Note:
With an English abstract.
URL:
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