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ENGL-214 Middle Eastern Literature

Students will study Middle Eastern Literature, in English translation, by examining major works by Arab and Arab-American writers from the advent of World War II to the present. Students are introduced to major Middle East literary topics and themes, most notably from those countries that felt the greatest impact of Western influence, signaling a change in literary technique and theme: Egypt, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Students will read from several genres, including the novel, the short story, poetry, and historical nonfiction. Readings will explore the broad social, cultural, and political changes wrought by Western presence, including the changing roles of women in Arab/Islamic culture. This course is writing intensive.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENGL-121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Recognize literary terms, concepts, critical strategies and stylistic characters in the texts studied.
  2. 2. Demonstrate critical and independent thinking in the interpretation of texts.
  3. 3. Write analytically about literary works, using appropriate research and documentation.
  4. 4. Demonstrate an understanding of ways the literature studied reflects its intellectual, social, historical and
    multicultural contexts.
  5. 5. Evaluate the power of literature to address values and goals and to challenge human endeavors.
  6. 6. Identify examples of and explain the significance of indigenous Middle East cultures responding to
    Western colonialism.

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Recognize literary terms, concepts, critical strategies and stylistic characters in the texts studied.
  2. 2. Demonstrate critical and independent thinking in the interpretation of texts.
  3. 3. Write analytically about literary works, using appropriate research and documentation.
  4. 4. Demonstrate an understanding of ways the literature studied reflects its intellectual, social, historical and
    multicultural contexts.
  5. 5. Evaluate the power of literature to address values and goals and to challenge human endeavors.
  6. 6. Identify examples of and explain the significance of indigenous Middle East cultures responding to
    Western colonialism.