Stylistics of Iqbal: A Stylistic Analysis of “Shikwā”

اسلوبیات اقبال:”شکوہ“کا اسلوبیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

Stylistics has long been recognized as the linguistic study of texts. In its contemporary understanding, however, stylistics extends beyond the analysis of linguistic components to examine how language choices convey meaning and produce aesthetic effects. Foregrounding is one of the central concepts in stylistic analysis. It refers to a technique through which a writer or poet deliberately deviates from or parallels conventional language patterns in order to attract the reader’s attention and establish a distinctive style. The long poem Shikwā by Muḥammad Iqbāl has remained an enduring favorite among Urdu literary critics and has increasingly drawn the attention of stylisticians. This paper seeks to explore how Iqbāl’s poetic style emerges through the systematic making and breaking of linguistic norms. It specifically examines the use of linguistic parallelism and linguistic deviation as key foregrounding devices that contribute to the poem’s stylistic richness. By analyzing these stylistic features, the study demonstrates how Iqbāl transforms language into a powerful expressive medium, enabling Shikwā to achieve both emotional depth and intellectual impact. The paper argues that the conscious manipulation of linguistic patterns not only enhances the poem’s aesthetic appeal but also secures its status as a timeless masterpiece of Urdu poetry.