Module description
Students will be required to read a basic history of the Middle East and an introductory text on the literary history of Arabic before the start of the module. They will then explore the beginnings and development of modern Arabic prose literature through the fiction and autobiography of certain key figures of the early twentieth century. The module will then take a detour through the modernist and revolutionary poetry of the mid- to late twentieth century before returning to fiction as a means of investigating the political upheaval that accompanies the turn of the twenty-first century. The global flow of texts and ideas between the Arab world and Europe will be an important point of emphasis throughout the module.
No knowledge of Arabic will be required or assumed.
Assessment details
1 x 4000-word essay (100%). Students will also be expected to give one seminar presentation.
Educational aims & objectives
This module will introduce students to the rich body of literature written in Arabic during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Given the historical and contemporary geostrategic importance of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the department's commitment to teaching world literature, this material will constitute an important part of the undergraduate experience that we provide.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
1. An understanding of the evolution of Arabic literature in the modern and contemporary periods
2. An appreciation of the development of Arabic literary genres during the 20th-21st centuries
3. A solid grasp of the life and work of key figures in modern and contemporary Arabic literary and cultural history
Teaching pattern
2 hours per week
Suggested reading list
In the interests of coherence, core seminar readings will be by Egyptian authors. Students are encouraged to introduce material by Arabophone writers who interest them via seminar presentations.
Background reading may include Allen's Arabic Literary Heritage, Hourani's History of the Arab Peoples and Arab Thought in the Liberal Age as well as selections from online resources such as the Encyclopedia of Islam and Oxford Islamic Studies Online.