Arabic Drama

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course is a study of representative plays from the Arab world. Although it focuses on the modern era, the course will include a discussion on the existence of the dramatic genre in classical Arabic literature. Students will then learn about the rise of the dramatic genre in modern Arabic literature and the notable developments it has witnessed in respect of form, style, theme, and aesthetic concepts. We will read and analyze works penned by some of the major Arab playwrights, with a particular focus on Tawfiq al-Hakim and Sadallah Wannous. Further, we will examine how these writers responded to their social and political realities via drama, how they drew on and engaged with various religious and cultural sources such as the Quran, Arabian Nights, Greek mythology, and Arabic folklore, and how their works reflected the impact of major European dramatic figures and movements, including Bertolt Brecht and Theatre of the Absurd. In addition to dramatic works, reading assignments will also include relevant historical and theoretical articles. The course will be taught in Arabic. All plays will be read in Arabic, while articles will be in both Arabic and English.