Comp Lit 32: Major Works of Middle
Eastern Literature
Prof. Dwight Reynolds (Dept. of Religious Studies)
Office Hours: Mondays 11-12, Tuesdays 1-2 in HSSB 3056
Class Times: M/W 9:30-10:45
Location: TD 1701
Required Texts:
Gilgamesh: A new English version (
The Tragedy of Sohráb and Rostám, Firdowsi (Seattle:U of Washington, 1987)
Snow, Orhan Pamuk (
Season of Migration to the North, Tayeb Salih (Wash DC: Three Continents, 1987)
Course Reader (available at the
Alternative Copy Shop,
Extra Credit Events:
Nobel
Laureate Orhan Pamuk, Fri., Oct. 19, Campbell Hall ($10), 8 pm
The Whirling
Dervishes, Tues., Nov. 13, Campbell Hall ($19), 8 pm
WEEK ONE:
Monday, October 1:
Overview of course, requirements, readings, exams & grades
Introduction to Languages &
Peoples of the
Wednesday, October 3:
Introduction
to Languages & Peoples of the
Gilgamesh, pp. 1-129.
Sections:
Quiz #1 – Map of the
Discussion
of first half of Gilgamesh
WEEK TWO:
Monday, October 8:
The status of scripture in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Intro to Qur’ānic recitation: Opening verses to Sūrat Yūsuf
Wednesday, October 11:
Discussion of the Joseph story from the Bible and the Qur’ān
Read both versions of Joseph (bulk pack) BEFORE class on Wed., Oct. 11
Read second half of Gilgamesh (pp. 130-99) BEFORE sections on Friday, Oct. 13
Sections:
Quiz #2 –
Languages of the
Discussion of second half of Gilgamesh
Details of Writing Assignment #1 (due on Friday, October 19)
WEEK THREE:
Monday, October 15:
Concepts of “orality,” “performance,” “social action” etc., in preparation for
reading examples of ancient and modern Arabic oral poetry
Wednesday, October 17:
Discussion of Sells and Abu-Lughod
Arabic Epic
tradition: Sīrat Banī Hilāl
Nobel Laureate Orhan
Pamuk, Fri., Oct. 19, Campbell Hall ($10), 8 pm
Read Sells and Abu Lughod (course reader) BEFORE class on Wed., Oct. 17
Read “The Birth of Abū Zayd” (course reader) BEFORE sections on Fri., Oct. 19
Sections:
Writing Assignment #1 due at BEGINNING of
Section on Friday, Oct 19
Discussion of Joseph assignment and Sirat Bani Hilal
WEEK FOUR:
Monday, October 22:
The
preparation for reading Sohrāb and Rostām
Wednesday, October 24:
The history of the Thousand and One Nights
Opening story of 1001 Nights (course reader) BEFORE class on Wed., Oct. 24
First half of Sohrāb and Rostām (pp. 1-89) BEFORE sections on Fri, Oct. 26
Sections:
Return of Writing Assignment #1 and discussion
Discussion
of Sohrāb and Rostām and 1001 Nights
WEEK FIVE:
Monday, October 29:
Catch-up day and review for Midterm Exam
Wednesday, October 31 – MIDTERM EXAM
Finish Sohrāb and Rostām BEFORE Midterm exam on Wednesday, Oct 31
Sections:
Details of Writing Assignment #2, discuss Midterm
WEEK SIX:
Monday, November 5:
Three fairy tales: “Sackcloth” “The Ghula of Transjordan” and “Brother
Mas’ud, Sister Mas’uda”
Wednesday, November 7
Intro to the history of al-Andalus (“Moorish Spain”)
Poems by Shmuel Ha-Nagid
Read three fairy tales BEFORE class on Monday, Nov. 5
Begin reading Layla and Majnun
Sections:
Turn in Writing Assignment #2; discussion of assignment
Return of Midterm Exams and discussion
WEEK SEVEN:
Monday, November 12 –
The Whirling
Dervishes, Tues., Nov. 13, Campbell Hall ($19), 8 pm
Wednesday, November 14:
Sufism and Allegory: Layla and Majnun
Finish Layla and Majnun BEFORE sections on Fri., Nov. 16
Begin
reading Season of Migration to the North
Sections:
Discussion of Sufism, Layla and Majnun, allegory and metaphor
WEEK EIGHT:
Monday, November 19:
Nationalism and Colonialism
Wednesday, November 21:
Discussion
of Season of Migration to the North
Read Season of Migration BEFORE class on Wednesday, Nov. 21
(Surprise quiz at beginning of class; yes, a surprise quiz)
Begin
reading “Momik” and “Returning to
Sections:
No sections – THANKSGIVING BREAK
WEEK NINE:
Monday, November 26:
Wednesday, November 28
Discussion
of “Momik” and “Returning to
Finish
reading “Momik” and “Returning to
Sections:
Writing Assignment #2 returned and
discussed
Details of Writing Assignment #3 – due
Friday, Dec. 7
WEEK TEN:
Monday, December 3:
Preparation for reading Snow (Orhan Pamuk)
The Ottoman
Empire and modern
Fundamentalisms
Wednesday, December 5:
Final discussions and Review for Exam
Sections:
Writing Assignment #3 due at BEGINNING of
sections
Discussion of Snow and review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 8-11 AM
GRADES
Final Examination: 50 points
Midterm Examination: 50 points
Writing Assignments: 150 points (3 x 50 points)
Quizzes 50 (2 x 25 points)
----------------------------------------
Total 300
points
Extra Credit 20 points for each
surprise quiz or event
!!! Section attendance Lose
20 points for every section absence !!!