French Literature Reviews - 2026

W. Hamdi, The Adjective in Rimbaud's Poetry
Poetry and Poetics

Walid Hamdi, L'Adjectif dans la poésie de Rimbaud

Paris: L'Harmattan, 2018.

286 pp.

EAN 9782343135199

29.50 EUR

Publisher's description:

This study examines Rimbaud's work through a specific grammatical category: the qualifying adjective. An examination of this marker, viewed as an internal syntactic feature, reveals a style of expression that is as subversive as it is original. The qualifying adjective appears to be a highly representative element of Rimbaud's semantic universe, carrying a prolific depth of meaning. It thus enables a re-reading of Rimbaud's texts through several analytical perspectives.

Walid Hamdi holds a PhD in French Language and Literature from the University of Manouba. He teaches at the University of Gafsa in Tunisia.

The use of grammatical categories as a lens for stylistic analysis has a long tradition in French literary criticism. Scholars of poetry have frequently examined how specific parts of speech contribute to the distinct texture and rhythm of verse. Within nineteenth-century French poetry, the manipulation of syntax and modifiers became a central mechanism for aesthetic innovation. Walid Hamdi contributes to this tradition by focusing on a specific element of word class within the context of writing, tracing how grammatical choices intersect with poetic vision and lexical creativity.

This study examines Rimbaud's work through the qualifying adjective, viewing it as an internal syntactic feature that reveals a subversive and original style of expression. The author demonstrates that this marker carries significant semantic depth, representing a key component of the poet's universe. Readers interested in French poetry, nineteenth-century literature and stylistic analysis may find this volume a relevant addition to scholarly discussions surrounding Arthur Rimbaud's poetic craft.