Language of Riddles in the Poetry of First Mamluk Period (648-784 H.)

This study examined the language of riddles in the poetry of the First Mamluk Period: 648-784 H. The study comes as one linguistic research series in the history of Arabic literatures. Despite the commonplace of riddles in the First Mamluk Period, the heritage books, which cited them, had failed to their language and content. Against this backdrop, this study came to reveal the literal and semantic language of riddles in that period, thus revealing the secrets and hidden things which poets had added to their riddles, to be known for this credit. The researcher explored, examined and delved into their poetry to extract the literal riddle components, in an age in which this art was very common in it. The researcher also sought to highlight the meanings which the poets dwelt on in their riddles. The researcher in this study used the analytical inductive method. She studied the poems and pieces pertinent to riddles in that age. She identified lines which had jokes and riddles and the provided analysis of linguistic issues. She also dwelt on the meanings which the poets had wanted to express and communicate. The study falls into four chapters and a conclusion: emergence of riddles; types of literal jokes in riddles, semantic riddles, and riddles statement or text of riddles. The study concluded with a number of findings.