Ahmed Shawqi: The Prince Of Poets
Ahmed Shawqi was an Arabic Language poet and dramatist. He was the one to pioneer the modern Egyptian literary movement by introducing the genre of poetic epics to the Arabic literary tradition. Born in 1868 and coming from a privileged family who were very well-connected with the court of the Khelive of Egypt at that time, Shawqi attended law school where he obtained a degree in translation. Upon graduating, he immediately got a in the court of the Khelive Abbas II. Having worked there for a year, he continued his studies studies in Law at the Universities of Montpellier and Paris for three years, where he was greatly influenced by the work of certain Frenchmen including Moliere and Racine.
Returning to Egypt in 1894, where he remained until he was exiled by the British to Southern Spain. However, he finally returned to Egypt in 1920 and was even crowned ‘the Prince of Poets by is colleagues in regards to his amazing literacy. Also, his new home that he built in Giza after returning to Egypt later became known as “Ahmed Shawqi Museum”.
Sadly, the world lost a great poet when he died in 1932 but his work will go on forever.
Shawqi was the first in Arabic literature to write poetic plays of which he wrote five tragedies:
• Magnun Laila (his first play).
• The Death of Cleopatra, his most famous play.
• 'Antara
• Ali bek el-Kabeer
• Qambeez
And two comedies:
• Es-Set Huda
• El-Bakhila
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