SLC 125E /Comparative Literature 125E
Short Stories and Poetry from the Arab World

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Winter 2000/2001
M/W : 11:00-12:45
Bldg. 200-15
Khalil Barhoum
Office: 40-42B / 650-723-3637
khalil@stanford.edu

*Films and videos are "On Reserve" in Green Library's Media Center.

WEEK ONE
Monday, January 15: HOLIDAY (M.L.K. DAY)
Wednesday, January 17: The Arab World: Introduction

--Recommended Video: "The Making of the Arabs" (ZVC 1722)

WEEK TWO
Monday, January 22: Etel Adnan, Sitt Marie Rose
Wednesday, January 24 Video: "West Beirut" (ZVC 14935)
Readings:
Etel Adnan, Sitt Marie Rose
Maroun Baghdadi, "The Kalashnikov Generation," in Fernea, Women and the Family in the Middle East, pp. 169-182.
--Recommended Video: "Women from South Lebanon" (ZVC 1787)

WEEK THREE
Monday, January 29: Ghassan Kanafani, Men in the Sun
Wednesday, January 31: Video: "Children of Shatila" ZVC 13109
Readings
Ghassan Kanafani, Men in the Sun & other short stories

WEEK FOUR
Monday, February 5: Themes & Concepts in Arabic Short Stories
Wednesday, February 7: Themes & Concepts in Arabic Short Stories
Reading:
Denys Johnson-Davies (tr.), Arabic Short Stories :
Egypt: Yusuf Idris, "The Chair Carrier," pp. 1-5
Saudi Arabia: Mohammed El-Bisatie, "My Brother," pp. 13-21
Yemen: Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Wali, "At a Woman's House," pp. 22-26

Iraq: Mohammed Khudayyir, "Clocks Like Horses," pp. 27-39
Egypt: Bahaa Taher, "Advice from a Sensible Young Man," pp. 40-45
Egypt: Yusuf Sharouni, "Glimpses from the Life of Maugoud Abdul Maugoud and Two Postscripts," pp. 46-67


WEEK FIVE
Monday, February 12: Themes & Concepts in Arabic Short Stories

Wednesday, February 13: Themes & Concepts in Arabic Short Stories
Reading:
Denys Johnson-Davies (tr.), Arabic Short Stories :
Egypt: Alifa Rifaat, "Another Evening at the Club," pp. 68-74
Libya: Ibrahim Al-Kouni, "The Drumming Sands," pp. 84-97
Lebanon: Hanan Shaykh, " The Persian Carpet," pp. 106-110
Morocco: Mohammed Chukri, "Flower Crazy," pp. 143-146
Tunisia: Habib Selmi, "Distant Seas," pp. 151-153
Syria: Zakaria Tamer, "Small Sun," pp. 158-163

--Recommended Video: "Family Ties" ("The Arabs: A Living History") ZVC 1722

WEEK SIX
Monday, February 19: HOLIDAY (Presidents' Day)
Wednesday, February 21: Alifa Rifaat, Distant View of a Minaret
Readings:
Alifa Rifaat, Distant View of a Minaret, pp. 1-60 / ESSAY DUE
Jamal Badawi, Gender Equity in Islam
--Recommended Video: "Women in the Arab World" (3-part series) (ZVC11490)

WEEK SEVEN
Monday, February 26: Alifa Rifaat, Distant View of a Minaret
Wednesday, February 28: Issues & Motifs in Modern Arabic Poetry:
Poets after the Fifties
Readings:
Alifa Rifaat, Distant View of a Minaret, pp. 61-116
Salma Khadra Jayyusi (tr.), Modern Arabic Poetry:
Adunis, pp. 137-151
Nazik al-Mala'ika, pp. 329-338
--Video: "Power of the Word" ("The Arabs: A Living History") ZVC 1722

WEEK EIGHT
Monday, March 5: Issues & Motifs in Modern Arabic Poetry:
Poets after the Fifties
Wednesday, March 7: Issues & Motifs in Modern Arabic Poetry:
Poets after the Fifties
Reading:
Salma Khadra Jayyusi (tr.), Modern Arabic Poetry:
Nizar Qabbani, pp. 368-379
Samih al-Qasim, pp. 380-390
Su'ad al-Mubarak al-Sabah, pp. 391-393
Fadwa Tuqan, pp. 455-462
--Video: Mahmoud Darwich: As the Land is the Language ZVC 12423

WEEK NINE
Monday, March 12: Review
Mon-Sun (March 12-18): End-Quarter Period

 



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Course Requirements & Grade Distribution

1. Essay (6-7 pages long): discuss one major cultural (socio-religious, political, historical) theme and/or issue dealt with in Arabic stories. Refer to as many works studied in this course as possible, without undue emphasis on quotes. (40%)
(Due on Wednesday, February 21, 2001)

2. Class Presentation (to be arranged during the course), attendance, and participation. (10%)

3. Open-Book Exam. (50%):
Final in Time Schedule : 8:30-11:30 A.M.

Required Texts
(available copies on reserve at Green/Meyer):

Etel Adnan, Sitt Marie Rose
Denys Johnson-Davies (tr.), Arabic Short Stories
Denys Johnson-Davies (tr.), Egyptian Short Stories
Ghassan Kanafani, Men in the Sun
Alifa Rifaat, Distant View of a Minaret
Arabic Poetry: Reader (at the Bookstore)

Further Reading & References:
Arthur Goldschmidt, A Concise History of the Middle East
John Esposito, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?
John Obert Voll, Islam: Continuity and Change in the Modern World
M.E. Yapp, The Near East Since the First World War

Available Films & Videos
(on Reserve):

Making of the Arabs:
(Part of a Series Titled "The Arabs: A Living History") ZVC 1722
Hidden Faces ZVC 8313
The Dupes ZVC 4721
Family Ties ("The Arabs: A Living History") ZVC 1722
Power of the Word ("The Arabs: A Living History") ZVC 1722
Islam Today ZVC 51
The Image of God ZVC 4164 (Part 3)
The Bonds of Pride ZVC 4164 (Part 4)
Women from South Lebanon (ZVC 1787)
Speaking of Peace: Israelis & Palestinians ZVC11502
Wild Flowers: Women of South Lebanon ZVC 1787
Umm Kulthum, A Voice Like Egypt ZVC 14132
Bab El-Oued City ZVC 11560
Nasser 56 ZVC 11569
Al Nakba: the Palestinian Catastrophe, 1948 : ZVC 11562
Going Home ZVC11595
Mahmoud Darwich: As the land is the language ZVC 12423
Through the Veil of Exile ZVC 6654
Children of Shatila ZVC 13109
West Beirut ZVC 14935


Important Statement Regarding
Students with Documented Disabilities:

Students who have a disability which may necessitate an academic accommodation or the use of auxiliary aids and services in a class must initiate the request with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC will evaluate the request with required documentation, recommend appropriate accommodations, and prepare a verification letter dated in the current academic term in which the request is made. Please contact the DRC as soon as possible; timely notice is needed to arrange for appropriate accommodations.


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