The Evolution of Satirical Poems in Hebrew Poetry Across Its Various Stages

Abstract

various stages, encompassing ancient, medieval, and modern Hebrew poetry. Satirical poetry refers to humorous or scornful poems that exaggerate specific aspects of humanity, provoking laughter, ridicule, or disdain. It can function as a literary critique of widespread corruption in society, the abuse of power within various social strata, criticism of political distortions, or the denunciation of moral vices such as greed and hypocrisy. Numerous poetic compositions addressing satire have emerged throughout the history of Hebrew poetry, spanning the periods of ancient, medieval, and modern Hebrew poetry. Modern Hebrew poetry has been significantly influenced by both biblical and medieval literary traditions. Satirical poetry has evolved, particularly during the Haskalah era, which celebrated reason and knowledge, explored past glories, delved into the mysteries of the world, celebrated the beauty of love and nature, while also lamenting contemporary Jewish misfortunes and sharply criticizing contemporary Jewish life.

As a result, satire has remained a prominent feature in Hebrew poetry, persisting and evolving to the present day. Accordingly, the researcher divides the study into three sections: the first section addresses satire linguistically and terminologically, the second section delves into satire in ancient and medieval Hebrew poetry, and the third section explores satire in modern Hebrew poetry. This division is supplemented by an introduction and conclusion.