1. The pre-Romantics

2. Revolt against the limitations imposed by the neoclassical conventions
Themes, diction and imagery

3. Khalil Mutran

4. Was a genius in journalism, in finance, in commerce, in agricultural economy. Received his education in a Catholic seminary in Beirut.
He was interested in politics (inspired by 1789).
Lived in Alexandria (1892 – 1949).
Director of the National Theatre Company.

5. Translated some of Shakespeare’s plays, and Corneille’s Le Cid.
Introduced new concepts into Arabic poetry:
- Unity of the poem/Unity of structure.
- Primacy of meaning
- Uncommon imagination/subject

6. The Diwan Group (Mazini, Shukri, Aqqad)
Tension between old form and new content.
Played important role in the development of Arabic poetry.

7. Ibrahim al-Mazini

8. Poet, Critic, essayist, translator, English teacher.
With Aqqad and Shukri formed “Madrasat al-tajdid” the School of Innovation (avant-gard) and Attacked traditional literary values. They published al-Diwan (Literary criticism).
prose writer

9. Abdul Rahman Shukri

10. Teacher
The Book of Confession: self analysis, observations on art and man, life and death, and graphically expressing the malaise of the Egyptian intellectual.
Concepts of poetry:
- Clarity/simplicity
- Imagination (vital role)
- Passion
- Atifah: Emotional polarities (love-hate, hope-despair, bravery-cowardice)

11. Abbas Mahmud al-Aqqad

12. self-taught
Journalist
The Golden Treasury: Attacks the privious Egyptian poets.