Similarity and Contrast in the Endings of the Poems of the Poet Jarir ibn Attia

Abstract

The ending of the poem occupies a significant artistic role in the poetry of Jarir ibn Atiyya, as it contributes to the coherence and unity of the poem’s structure. The conclusion serves as a firm foundation upon which the poet relies, and without it the poem risks losing direction and failing to convey its meaning effectively. Similarity (tashakul) and contrast (tabayun) are interdependent features of Jarir’s endings, each requiring the other to achieve full effect. His poems display varied types of endings: the natural ending (marked by similarity and structural growth), the sudden ending (differentiated and loosely connected to the poem’s subject), and the open ending (characterized by suspension or interruption). Yet most of Jarir’s poems conclude with similar endings, affirming his reliance on a coherent emotional unity that guides the poem toward growth, integration, and artistic wholeness.