Some of the first ancient forms of Arabic literature are represented by Arabic poetry. What people know and study today comes from as early as the 6^th century. However, oral tradition in ancient poetry may have been practiced at an earlier time.  Arabic poetry is divided into two general kinds. The first type is constructed with rhyme and measure while the second is the prose type. The pre-Islamic poetry is also known as Jahli poetry which literally may have reference to their poetry during the time of ignorance.

The pre-Islamic poetry may be a representative of Arabic classical language in terms of grammar as well as vocabulary. It is also considered as part of the historical record that reflects the political as well as the cultural life of the people during that time. The early forms of Arabic poetry played a significant role in their ancient society. Poets during those times were considered as their historians and soothsayers as well. They also functioned as propagandists in pre-Islamic times. This ancient Arabic poetry may be about praises directed to the tribe and some that ridicules other tribes. Most of the time, the poets may have some apprentice by their side who memorized and recited the poems. They may at times provide explanations as well.

This ancient form of Arabic poetry has become a form of oral tradition and a way of handling down the poetic works. This procedure was also used in memorizing the Qur’an. Pre-Islamic poetry is characterized by how the verses are constructed rather than what the poem really means. The next characteristic includes a romantic prelude where the poet mentions something about his standing by the ruins of someone beloved.

The early forms of Arabic poetry were taken as some sort of a threat to the rising faith of the people in Islam. Poets during this time were criticized in the Qur’an because they advocated subjects that were against the new faith such as wine and gambling. Some types of these ancient poems that attacked some beliefs or even a leader were not so much censured. However, though there were some poets who were converted, poems that were directed to praising Islam needed a longer time to develop. These poems have preserved a record of the life of people during the early years of Islam. These have also been used as the foundations for the field of linguistics with the Qur’an at the foremost.

One important factor to consider in studying Arabic poetry is its complexity. At the era of court poetry, this has already been considered as an art.  Poets made use of features that included metaphors, allusions and other literary tools. Arabic poetry later became more complex that it made it very tasking to make translations of the poems. Other types of Arabic poetry then included romantic as well as satirical poetry especially in the 9^th century. Revivals of Arabic poetry in the 20^th century consisted of some themes as well as forms that were used by some of the earliest poets as they followed through the trends from neo-classical style, romanticism to modernist poetry.

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