| CODE | ARB2034 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Arabic Literature: The Modern Period | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This is a text-based study-unit covering modern Arabic literary works produced during the 19th century onwards. The study-unit is constructed around key texts selected from various genres of modern Arabic literature, including Mahjar (diaspora) poetry, short story, novel, biography and literary criticism. The selected texts discussed in this study-unit are in English. The focus is on the main issues relevant to an understanding of modern Arabic literature and its development, such as European and non-European literary influences, the romantic imagination and al-Mahjar poetry, realism and social polarization in the Arab novel, pioneering drama writings, the change in literary sensibility (the rise of modernism, women writers and commitment literature). The topics covered in this study-unit will be determined in accordance with the pedagogic strategies and needs of the Department. Study-unit Aims: 1. To acquaint students with modern Arabic poetry and prose; 2. To enable students to critically discuss various themes, forms and techniques attested in modern Arabic literature; 3. To familiarize students with the history and development of modern Arabic literature, its major writers from different Arab countries, their literary persuasions, and the culture they represent; 4. To review the different instances of interaction between Arabic literature and Western literary and critical methods. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will: 1. be acquainted with modern Arabic literature; 2. have enough insight into the history and development of modern Arabic literature, its sources,and the culture; 3. be able to appreciate modern Arabic literary texts in translation, distinguishing between different literary genres; 4. be able to appreciate the significance of literature in the understanding of vital cultural, social and political processes, and especially to the quest for modernity and modernization in Arab societies. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. strengthen his/her knowledge about the socio-cultural background which led to the development of modern Arabic literature; 2. critically discuss themes, forms and techniques attested in modern Arabic literature; 3. apply the literary skills learned in this study-unit to other study-units related to Arabic literature. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: (availability at the Library or otherwise is indicated against each entry) - Badawi, M.M. 1993. A Short History of Modern Arabic Literature. Oxford: O.U.P. - Cachia, Pierre. An Overview of Modern Arabic Literature, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 1990. - Gibb, H.A.R. Arabic Literature: An Introduction, London: O.U.P., 1963. - S.K. Jayyusi, R. Allen (Eds.). Modern Arabic Drama. An anthology, Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1995. - Nicholson, R.A. A Literary History of the Arabs, Cambridge: C.U.P., 1969. - R.C. Ostle (Ed.). Studies in Modern Arabic Literature, Wilts, Aris and Phillips Ltd., 1975. - Sabry Hafiz and C. Cobham (Eds.). A Reader of Modern Arabic Short Stories, London: Saqi Books, 1988. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Amy Marie Abela |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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