This course will trace the broad outlines of the history of classical Arabic literature from the late eighth century onward. The major and most representative genres and authors will all be brought into view, as the Arabic literary production gradually passes from a long flourishing period to a stage of relative decline. In highlighting examples of both learned prose and poetry and "popular" literature, this class seeks to give students a basic understanding of the vitality and depth of the medieval Arabic cultural heritage.

. Administrative literature, imaginative or artistic prose (adab)
. Historiography, cosmography and geography, travel writings
. "Modern" and "neo-classical" poetry of the Abbasid period
. Arabic poetry from Andalusia and Sicily
. Epic literature and The Thousand and One Nights

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons, class discussions, analysis of texts

Course books

• Allen, R., La letteratura araba, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006, pp. 9-39, 44-58, 83-214.
• Amaldi, D., Storia della letteratura araba classica, Zanichelli, Bologna 2004, pp. 48-211.

and a choice between:

• Ibn Battuta, I viaggi, a cura di C.M. Tresso, Einaudi, Torino 2008.
• Le mille e una notte. Le storie più belle, a cura di F. Gabrieli e M. Cassarino, Einaudi, Torino 2006.
• Luqman, l'Esopo arabo. La favola di animali dalla Grecia al Medio Oriente, a cura di V. Giarratano, Irfan Edizioni, San Demetrio Corone 2011.
• al-Mutanabbi, L'emiro e il suo profeta. Odi in onore di Sayf ad-Dawla al-Hamdani, a cura di M. Diez, Edizioni Ariele, Milano 2009.
• Pucciarelli, V., Dante e l'Islam. La controversia sulle fonti escatologiche musulmane della Divina Commedia, Irfan Edizioni, San Demetrio Corone 2012.

Optional reading:

• Irwin, R., a cura di, Night & Horses & the Desert. An Anthology of Classical Arabic Literature, Anchor Books, New York 2002.
• Van Gelder, G.J., a cura di, Classical Arabic Literature. A Library of Arabic Literature Anthology, New York University Press, New York 2013.

Further readings, including a selection of primary texts in Arabic and in translation, will be added to the required reading list during the semester.

Assessment

Oral exam

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

Students who do not attend class must contact the teacher for their program of study. Required readings include:

• Allen, R., La letteratura araba, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006, pp. 9-39, 44-58, 83-214.
• Amaldi, D., Storia della letteratura araba classica, Zanichelli, Bologna 2004, pp. 48-211.
• Casari, M. "Percorsi tematici nel viaggio eurasiatico dei testi", in: M. Capaldo, F. Cardini, G. Cavallo, e B. Scarcia Amoretti (direttori), Lo spazio letterario del medievo 3, Le culture circostanti II, La cultura arabo-islamica, a cura di B. Scarcia Amoretti, Salerno Editrice, Roma 2003, pp. 459-498.
• Denaro, R., "Postfazione", in: Le Mille e una notte, a cura di R. Denaro, Donzelli, Roma 2006, pp. 575-589.
• Toelle, H., K. Zakharia, Alla scoperta della letteratura araba. Dal VI secolo ai nostri giorni, Argo, Lecce 2010, pp. 21-213.

in addition to

• al-Ghazali, Lettera a un discepolo, a cura di S. Ciccarello, Sellerio editore, Palermo 1992.
• Ibn al-Muqaffa, Il libro di Kalila e Dimna, a cura di A. Borruso e M. Cassarini, Salerno editrice, Roma 1991.

and a choice between:

• Ibn Battuta, I viaggi, a cura di C.M. Tresso, Einaudi, Torino 2008.
• Le mille e una notte. Le storie più belle, a cura di F. Gabrieli e M. Cassarino, Einaudi, Torino 2006.
• Luqman, l'Esopo arabo. La favola di animali dalla Grecia al Medio Oriente, a cura di V. Giarratano, Irfan Edizioni, San Demetrio Corone 2011.
• al-Mutanabbi, L'emiro e il suo profeta. Odi in onore di Sayf ad-Dawla al-Hamdani, a cura di M. Diez, Edizioni Ariele, Milano 2009.
• Pucciarelli, V., Dante e l'Islam. La controversia sulle fonti escatologiche musulmane della Divina Commedia, Irfan Edizioni, San Demetrio Corone 2012.

Optional reading:

• Irwin, R., a cura di, Night & Horses & the Desert. An Anthology of Classical Arabic Literature, Anchor Books, New York 2002.
• Van Gelder, G.J., a cura di, Classical Arabic Literature. A Library of Arabic Literature Anthology, New York University Press, New York 2013.

Assessment

Oral exam

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography.