"Conceptual Metaphors in Abu Tammam’s Poem 'They Are the Calamities of Yusuf': Blending Schemas and Generating Mixed Metaphors"

This study aimed to analyze Abu Tammam’s poem "Hun Awadi Yusuf" through the lens of conceptual metaphor theory, focusing on two primary metaphors: "Life is a journey" and "Power is Control." The goal was to explore the interaction between these metaphors and how they contributed to shaping the poem’s structure and meaning, offering a new perspective on classical Arabic poetry beyond traditional rhetorical approaches.The study was based on conceptual metaphor theory as developed by Lakoff, Turner, and others. The analysis examined the projection of journey and power concepts onto the poet’s experience of life and praise. It also investigated
how metaphorical schema blending—combining themes of travel, struggle, and dominance—enhanced the poem’s semantic coherence.The study revealed the role of conceptual metaphor in constructing poetic meaning, emphasizing the interaction between journey and power schemas in the panegyric. The interplay of these schemas formed a cohesive structure, countering claims of
the poem’s fragmentation. The research demonstrated that conceptual metaphor provides a new
analytical framework for panegyric poetry, challenging traditional critiques.The study highlighted
the dynamics of mixed metaphors in the poem and their role in transcending conventional structures, granting the text semantic cohesion and a renewed poetic vision. It confirmed that Abu Tammam’s poem did not merely employ scattered metaphors but wove an interconnected network
of conceptual interactions that redefined its interpretive framework. By analyzing how journey evolved from a conventional motif into a complex conceptual model, the research contributed to a deeper understanding of conceptual metaphor in classical Arabic poetry