Arabic proverbs and literature: the animal connection

In proverb and literary aspects, animals have always been a great part of the Arabic culture and literature as animals have similar attributes as humans in terms of behaviors, characters and societal norms. These animal images are created in the context of the language used and customs of the people, as they show the closeness between man and animals and his environment. Some of these animals include wolves, lions and sheep which may represent power, cleverness and submissiveness respectively depending on the social or dialectical context (Salamh & Maalej, 2018). This phenomenon of linking animals to human attributes is found in Arabic literature from the period of the birth of our religion to the present, including texts, fairy tales, and ethnographic materials. Proverb not only makes sense in awfully constricting and expanding concepts which teaches lessons but also explains the environments where that animal was found (Issawi, 2021). Animals in Arabic proverbs also help explain the culture and social order of the various Arab societies as well as how their proverbs have been preserved through oral tradition.