ACOM 254 - Middle Eastern Literature

What do we mean by “Middle Eastern literature”? Often referred to as primarily Muslim and Arab in nature, this vast region spans a myriad of religions and civilizations that also include Iranian, Jewish, Kurdish, Turkish, and Afghan societies. But how have the experiences of European colonialism, migration to the West, and globalization shaped and influenced these societies? Are there common themes that arise among these diverse communities, and if so, can they reflect a distinctive “Middle Eastern” sensibility? These are the complex questions that are addressed in this course. Students will be asked to reflect critically and reflexively on essays, poetry, and fiction as part of an effort to make cross-cultural connections. Selected authors include Hafiz (Persia/Iran), Nazim Hikmet (Turkey), Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt), Khaled Mattawa (Libya), Amos Oz (Israel), as well as anonymous works from Early Arabic literature and Arab Andalusia (Spain).

3 credits

Prerequisite: Writing Essentials or successful placement into English Composition