An Anarchist Reading of Ahmed Fouad Negm’s Poetry

Elshaikh, Ebtihal Abdelsalam; Elshaikh, Asmaa Abdelsalam

doi:10.21608/tjhss.2022.154573.1103

An Anarchist Reading of Ahmed Fouad Negm’s Poetry

Document Type : Original papers

Authors

¹ Tanta University

² English Department College of Arts, Damnhour University

10.21608/tjhss.2022.154573.1103

Abstract

The worldwide current political upheavals together with the gaps between the rich and the poor led to the recent revival of the anarchist movement that “advocates self-governed societies based on voluntary institutions.” Anarchism, which is considered “the “revolutionary movement of the twenty-first century,” has attracted many contemporary writers who have been motivated by its strong opposition to totalitarian ideologies and authoritarian governments. Recently, anarchism has developed into a literary theory.

Taking the anarchist literary theory as a framework, this paper attempts to analyze some anarchist elements as reflected in Ahmed Fouad Negm. Negm is known for his political poetry through which he speaks out against governmental oppression. He is one of the rebellious political activists and poets in contemporary Egypt. In his poetry, he always sympathizes with the poor and oppressed, and expresses his contempt for Egyptian corrupt and dictatorial figures. He directs his harsh and sever criticism towards all kinds of authorities and dreams of a free society which depends on mutual aid and in which each individual counts regardless of his race, color, religion, or social class.

Keywords: anarchism, anarchist literary theory, Ahmed Fouad Nigm, vernacular Egyptian poetry.

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