UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
The UNESCO Chair, in collaboration with the French Language Department at the Faculty of
Languages, organized a panel discussion titled "The Philosophical and Religious Dimension
in the Poetry of Alfred de Vigny." The session, presented by Dr. Alaa Shatnan, the Director
of the UNESCO Chair, took place on Monday, March 18, 2024.
The lecture shed light on the poetry of the French Romantic poet Alfred de Vigny and
showcased the characteristics of his poetry, distinguished by the dominance of both
philosophical and religious dimensions. The presenter began by discussing the Romantic
school, its characteristics, the historical and literary context in which this movement
emerged, and its prominent European founders. Subsequently, he mentioned the most
notable French Romantic poets and their significant works. Then, an introductory overview of
Alfred de Vigny was provided before delving into his major collections and poems, which
were characterized by the dominance of both philosophical and religious elements and the
utilization of biblical symbols and others to highlight the poet's conceptions and
contemplations on the universe, creation, the relationship between humanity and the
Creator, virtue and vice, and the ideal image that humanity should aspire to achieve.
The aim of the lecture was to highlight the characteristics of the poetry of one of the most
important French Romantic poets of the 19th century and to emphasize its distinction from
his contemporaries through the dominance of philosophical and religious contemplation in
his works.
The lecture recommended the importance of emphasizing comparative studies and
encouraging students and scholars of Arabic and foreign literature to highlight similarities
and differences between the literary productions of different writers, as well as between the
same literary currents and schools.
