This course examines the development of Arabic literature in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While not disregarding the elements of continuity with respect to the classical Arabic tradition, it will pay particular attention to the innovations related to the encounter with European culture, such as the development of new literary genres. A final part of the course will discuss the main trends and authors from the 1940s to the present.

• The "revival" (al-nahdah) of Arabic literature in the 19th century
• The development of new genres: short stories and novels
• Contemporary narrative: tradition and modernity
• Trends, schools, and themes in Arabic narrative literature since the 1940s, with main attention to the Egyptian novel (from Mahfuz to al-Aswani and beyond)

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

• Camera d'Afflitto, I., Letteratura araba contemporanea. Dalla nahdah a oggi, Carocci, Roma, 2007.
• Antologia della letteratura araba contemporanea. Dalla nahdah a oggi, a cura di M. Avino, I. Camera d'Afflitto e A. Salem, Carocci, Roma, 2015.

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

The assessment consists of an oral exam evaluated on a scale of thirty. The student is asked to discuss a topic of a general nature suggested by the teacher, in which he or she demonstrates the ability to master the contents, to distinguish the fundamentals and synthesize, to explain clearly and coherently, and to use an appropriate vocabulary. After the presentation, which will last around 20 minutes, the teacher reserves the possibility to ask more specific questions also about other themes of the program.

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:

• Camera d'Afflitto, I., Letteratura araba contemporanea. Dalla nahdah a oggi, Carocci, Roma, 2007.
• Antologia della letteratura araba contemporanea. Dalla nahdah a oggi, a cura di M. Avino, I. Camera d'Afflitto e A. Salem, Carocci, Roma, 2015.
• Toelle, H., K. Zakharia, Alla scoperta della letteratura araba. Dal VI secolo ai nostri giorni, Argo, Lecce, 2010, pp. 217-406.
• Tresilian, D. A Brief Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature, Saqi Books, London, 2008.

Assessment

The assessment consists of an oral exam evaluated on a scale of thirty. The student is asked to discuss a topic of a general nature suggested by the teacher, in which he or she demonstrates the ability to master the contents, to distinguish the fundamentals and synthesize, to explain clearly and coherently, and to use an appropriate vocabulary. After the presentation, which will last around 20 minutes, the teacher reserves the possibility to ask more specific questions also about other themes of the program.

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 or French with an alternative bibliography.