The Preference between Poetry and Prose in Andalusian Criticism: Intellectual Foundations and Artistic Criteria

چکیده

This study explores the issue of preference between poetry and prose in Andalusian criticism, considering it one of the most significant topics that revealed the nature of literary awareness among Andalusian critics and their connection to earlier critical heritage. It traces the positions of leading critics, clarifies the foundations upon which they based their judgments, and analyzes the influence of religious, ethical, philosophical, and social factors in shaping their views. The research shows that critics did not agree on a single stance—some favored poetry, others prose, and some sought reconciliation—while many judgments were influenced by external considerations rather than purely artistic criteria, such as religious and ethical tendencies or attitudes toward poetry as a means of livelihood. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology that combines description, analysis, comparison, and interpretation of the critics’ views within their intellectual and social contexts, the study concludes that an absolute preference between poetry and prose is not critically valid, since each is an independent art with its own characteristics, function, and domain. The true value of this debate lies in understanding the nature of each art form and uncovering the development of critical thought in Andalusia.