Abstract:
This study explores the rich romantic lyricism in the poetry of William Shakespeare and Ahmed Shawqi, two literary giants separated by geography, language, and era yet united by their profound emotional expression and artistic mastery. By conducting a stylistic and comparative analysis, the research highlights how both poets articulate themes of love, passion, and human vulnerability through distinctive yet resonant poetic devices. Shakespeare's use of the sonnet form, iambic pentameter, and metaphorical imagery is contrasted with Shawqi's employment of classical Arabic meters, monorhyme structures, and elaborate symbolic language rooted in Arabic prosody. Despite their cultural differences, both poets evoke universal experiences of love and longing, merging personal sentiment with philosophical depth. This comparative study reveals how Shakespeare's Renaissance humanism and Shawqi's Arab nationalist fervour shape their lyrical voices, demonstrating the timeless and cross-cultural nature of romantic poetry. Ultimately, this review and research affirms the enduring relevance of their poetic expressions and contributes to a deeper understanding of cross-cultural literary connections.