The Poetic Paradox as Experimental Device: An Analysis of Ibrahim Hassan's "The Returned from His Face"

This study investigates the integral relationship between literary experimentation and the formation of poetic paradox within contemporary Arabic poetry. Using the poetry collection The Returned from His Face by Ibrahim Hassan as a primary case study, the research examines how experimental paradox functions as a central aesthetic strategy. The analysis addresses core questions: Can paradox be understood as a construct of literary experimentation? How does it generate artistic pleasure and aesthetic value? Employing a close reading and analytical approach, the study interprets textual layers and logical connotations to explore how Hassan utilizes paradox. The findings reveal that the poet strategically employs paradox at the level of imagery to transform symbols of violence into aesthetic forms, thereby synthesizing contradictions without semantic disruption. Furthermore, linguistic experimentation -- through alterations in syntactic structures, dense metaphor, and innovative diction -- is identified as a crucial element in crafting a distinctive poetic style designed to evoke shock and astonishment. The study concludes that experimental paradox is not merely a rhetorical figure but a fundamental component of impactful poetry, endowing literary texts with a unique aesthetic character charged with artistic energy. This research contributes to broader critical discussions on experimental literature and opens new avenues for exploring paradox in modern Arabic poetic discourse