Chapter One. Secular Hebrew Poetry In Spain As Courtly Poetry: Is It Indeed?

Abstract

Hebrew poetry is very far from the Arabic courtly poetry in Spain. From what is accepted in research on Hebrew poetry in Spain, and following Weiss, almost all the secular poetry in its various genres might be placed under the definition of courtly poetry since it was mostly written by virtue of the existence of a Jewish courtly culture, and from within that culture. However, to define the new style in Arabic poetry in itself as 'courtly', and to distinguish it from the old warlike style, is misleading. Yellin compares the Hebrew and the Arabic poetry of praise, and further in his writing. The special quality of the Andalusian poetry - again, the Arabic and the Hebrew - stems from the various aspects of the country's geographic and anthropological landscape, and is not a function of the court milieu.Keywords: Andalusia; Arabic poetry; courtly culture; courtly poetry; Hebrew poetry