Introduction
How did modern Arabic literature (MAL) come into being? How did it interact with the great classical heritage and with European literatures? Which role did MAL play in the formation of modern Arab nation states, and in which way did, and does, it contribute to the creation of Arab identities? Which major issues were, and are, authors in various Arab countries concerned with, and which function does belles-lettres fulfil in modern Arab societies?
Course content
A selection of “landmarks” in the history of modern Arabic fiction will be presented and studied in relation to their historical, cultural and socio-political contexts. Among the “perennial” issues raised in the texts are the rural-urban divide, the relation between East and West, political systems, the mission of the intellectual, and the role of women in society.
Course activities encompass the reading of original texts, reference literature in Arabic and other languages, as well as discussions about theoretical-methodological approaches to the study of modern Arabic fiction.
The course is partly given in Arabic (lectures) and partly in Arabic or English (students’ presentations, group discussions). It is informed by the teacher’s longstanding specialization in Comparative Middle Eastern Literatures and several earlier research projects (“The History of Middle Eastern Literatures Revisited”, “West Reads East”, “Exploring Post-Postmodernism”, “In 2016–How it felt to live in the Arab World five years after the ‘Arab Spring’”).
Learning outcome
Participants will:
- become familiar with a highly relevant aspect of modern Arab cultural production in a historical perspective
- come to know major representatives of the modern literary canon, their authors and the key issues taken up by them and skillfully moulded into in literary parables
- acquire competence in the reading and interpretation of Arabic primary sources
- receive training in the critical use of relevant secondary literature both in Arabic and in other languages
- develop the ability to describe and summarize source material and to analyze it with regard to a chosen method of literary criticism
- present their own analysis in oral and written form and in a concise academic style.
Teaching is organised as 10 classes of 2 hours each throughout the semester. Weekly assignments may be given to prepare for class. Active participation in class is expected.
Compulsory activities
- week-to-week preparation of assigned texts and reference literature for in-class discussion
- at least 70 percent attendance in class
- one or two oral presentations in class (precise number and length will be determined at the beginning of the semester). The oral presentation must be accompanied by a 1-page hand-out. As part of active participation in class, students will be required to comment on each other’s presentations.
- outline of the term paper and a list of sources