Sufism in modern Arabic lit

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Email: aez3@georgetown.edu Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 5:00-6:00-pm and by appointment. Prerequisites: Second semester of Advanced Arabic or by placement test. As announced by the dean, the first two weeks will be online (Zoom). After that we will move to the in-person teaching. For that period, students are required to turn on their cameras during the class. Please read below the guidelines: “If a student who cannot turn on their camera for technical reasons, or has compelling personal reasons to not turn on their camera, must apply in writing for an exemption from their advising dean. If their personal reason is confidential, a student may initiate the application process through the Wellness Centre. Those students granted exemptions will work with their deans and instructors to plan alternatives as needed.” Sufism has invaded modern Arabic literature since the sixties of last century. It might appear at first contradictory to write ‘modern’ poetry and ‘modern’ novels, and yet be inspired by the great traditional figures of Sufism. The fact is that modern Arab poets and novelists reinterpreted the Sufi masterpieces in such a manner as to reveal the profound ’modernity’ that is hidden in these Sufi texts. This course will endeavor to: Explore the reasons behind the flourishing of this ‘literary Sufism’. Analyze how Sufi texts have influenced the content and style of modern Arabic literature. Highlight the specificity of ‘literary Sufism’. In this sense, this course doesn’t dwell much on Sufism per se and doesn’t tackle its conceptual and experiential components, but rather focus on the poesis of Sufi tropes as recycled and reinterpreted by modern Arabic literature.Means of assessment: Student’s work will be evaluated as follows: 1.Attendance: 10% Students are allowed one absence during the semester. Any additional absence should be justified either by bringing a medical excuse or a letter from their advising dean. 2. Class discussion & interpretation of the material. It is crucial to contribute to the analysis of the readings. Students are urged to express their opinions and bring in original insights. No excuses will be accepted for not having read the assigned texts: 20% 3.Weekly oral presentations that will be chosen by the professor and assigned to each student in turn: 15% 4.Two Short papers of 300 words. 10%. 5.Midterm exam: 20% The midterm is composed of question essays related in a way or another to class discussions, assigned readings, and students’ presentations. 6. Outline of the final papers presented to the class: 5%. Each student is required to present the outline of his/her final paper to the class. 7.Final research paper (2500 words) 20 % due on December 7th. Failing to deliver the paper on this date will affect your grade. The teacher will meet with each student in the first week of November to discuss the final projects. No student is allowed to embark on her /his research before discussing the proposed research and getting the teacher’s approval.