This course explores the relationship between the development of the Arab novel and the challenges faced by the Arab World in the twentieth century. The Arab novel is neither a mere copy of its western counterpart nor is it simply an organic outgrowth of the literary tradition of the Arab World. It is, rather, a literary response to the region's own particular experiences with modernity. As such, it is a rich site to explore how groups and individuals in the region have dealt with issues such as urbanization, war, imperialism, nationalism, and gender. We will consider how the issues faced by the region have had an impact on literary language and style. We will also discuss the translation of Arabic literature into English, since translation not only transforms the original text but also determines which texts one is able to read. How does this fact affect our ability to address the above issues if the novels that are available to non-Arabic speakers are not necessarily representative of literary production in Arabic itself? We will explore these questions through the reading of novels by writers such as Naguib Mahfouz (Nobel Prize winner from Egypt), Ghassan Kanafani (Palestine), Hanan al-Shaykh (Lebanon), al-Tayyib Salih (The Sudan), Assia Djebar (Algeria) and others. In addition to novels, we will read a variety of secondary texts and watch at least one feature film from the region. All readings in English. Format: discussion with some lecturing. The final grade will be based on class participation, short weekly reaction papers, a short individual or group presentation, and a final paper of 6 to 8 pages related to the student's presentation topic. No prerequisites. No enrollment limit (expected 15).

Hour: STONE