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In this first full-scale ethnographic study of Yemeni tribal poetry, Steven Caton reveals an astonishingly rich folkloric system where poetry is both a creation of art and a political and social act. Almost always spoken or chanted, Yemeni tribal poetry is cast in an idiom considered colloquial and "ungrammatical," yet admired for its wit and spontaneity. In Yemeni society, the poet has power over people. By eloquence the poet can stir or, if his poetic talents are truly outstanding, motivate an audience to do his bidding. Yemeni tribesmen think, in fact, that poetry's transformative effect is too essential not to use for pressing public issues.Drawing on his three years of field research in North Yemen, Caton illustrates the significance of poetry in Yemeni society by analyzing three verse genres and their use in weddings, war mediations, and political discourse on the state. Moreover, Caton provides the first anthropology of poetics. Challenging Western cultural assumptions that political poetry can rarely rise above doggerel, Caton develops a model of poetry as cultural practice. To compose a poem is to construct oneself as a peacemaker, as a warrior, as a Muslim. Thus the poet engages in constitutive social practice.Because of its highly interdisciplinary approach, this book will interest a wide range of readers including anthropologists, linguists, folklorists, literary critics, and scholars of Middle Eastern society, language, and culture.

Folk poetry, Arabic --- Languages & Literatures --- Middle Eastern Languages & Literatures --- Arabic folk poetry --- Arabic poetry --- History and criticism --- Folk poetry. --- Yemen. --- Yemen --- Social life and customs. --- Folk poetry [Arabic] --- Social life and customs --- Folk poetry, Arabic - Yemen - History and criticism. --- Yemen - Social life and customs. --- Yemen (Republic) --- Dēmokratia tēs Yemenēs --- Eaman (Republic) --- Éimin (Republic) --- Ėl'-Iemen (Republic) --- Emen (Republic) --- Emenskai︠a︡ Rėspublika --- Ǧumhūriyyah al-Yamaniyyah --- Ĭemen (Republic) --- Ĭemenmudin Orn --- Jeemen (Republic) --- Jeemeni Vabariik --- Jemen (Republic) --- Jemeno --- Jumhūrīyah al-Yamanīyah --- Jumhūriyyah al Yamaniyyah --- Pobblaght ny Yeaman --- Poblachd Iemein --- Poblacht Éimin --- Republic of Yemen --- República de Yeme --- República de Yemen --- República del Yemen --- Republiek van Jemen --- Republika Ĭemen --- République du Yémen --- Shádiʼááhjí Ásáí Bikéyah --- Yaman al-Shamālī --- Yaman (Republic) --- Yamanīyah (Republic) --- Yamaniyyah (Republic) --- Yeaman (Republic) --- Yeme (Republic) --- Yemenē (Republic) --- Yemengo Errepublika --- Υεμένη (Republic) --- Δημοκρατία της Υεμένης --- Република Йемен --- Йемен (Republic) --- Йеменмудин Орн --- Емен (Republic) --- Еменская Рэспубліка --- جمهورية اليمنية --- يَمَن (Republic) --- イエメン (Republic) --- 예멘 (Republic) --- Yemen (Arab Republic) --- Yemen (People's Democratic Republic)