The study was built on pursuing opinions of some
contemporary researchers , then samples of the old critics' attitudes were
displayed , it is two parts . The first part included two different trends of
texts one of them is that on which the contem
porary researchers have
relied in an attempt to prove the old critics were fanatic and the other
displayed several criticism texts of each old critic showing their positive
critical attitudes towards the innovated poetry. The second part includes
critical texts representing the critics' opinions from the end of the second
century of Hegira until termination the dealing with the innovation in the
Abbaside poetry issue.
This paper aims to examine William Beckford's Vathek (1786) in
terms of the major impacts that have helped him to compose such a
novel. The three main factors that influenced Beckford are: his
experience during his residence at Fonthill Abbey; his
interest and
readings in translations of the Arabian tales, The Arabian Nights; and his
combination of fantasy with the soberly sensual grace of Eastern imagery.
Despite the fact that Vathek is an eccentric short novel, it is based on a
realistic protagonist, Al-Wathek (A.D.815-846), the 9th Caliph of Abassid
dynasty, known for his love of food, and his knowledge in music, poetry,
astronomy and logic.
