Works in English translation will illustrate the progression of Arabic literary culture from early sources to the present. Lectures and discussions, along with audio-visual materials, will reference the history of the Arabs and the cultural context disclosed in their writings. Issues relating to translation will also be discussed. An introduction to ancient Arabia and to pre-Islamic poetry will lead to discussion of the Qur`an and Islam. The literary legacy of the Caliphal periods will be examined. The Arabian Nights will be seen to illustrate the popular culture of the times. Belle-lettrist works and those of the Arab geographers, scientists and philosophers will be sampled. The contacts between the Arab world and the west in the modern era will be seen to have stimulated new departures in Arabic literature. Particular attention will be given to the works of Naguib Mahfouz, the Egyptian winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature, known personally to the lecturer.

Course Requirements:

Students will be expected to attend lectures regularly and to complete five short essays on works assigned. Two of these essays may initially be submitted in draft form.

Intended Audience:

All undergraduate students curious about the literature and history of the Arab world.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly