Flowers Bloom in the Desert: Literature of the Middle East

Catalog description

Without realizing it, you have been exposed to Middle Eastern Literature for most of your life. One of the first important texts in history, The Epic of Gilgamesh, so influenced the ancient world that parts of it are found in the Bible and other major works from before the time of Christ. The Middle East is known as the “cradle of civilization,” and true to its history, the region today continues to capture the attention of the world. Stories adapted from thousand+ year old texts, like Aladdin, for example, have earned billions of dollars at the box office and introduced wider audiences to the stories of the Middle East. The literature that comes from the region, both then and now, is filled with passion and power and is a testament to the region’s relevance throughout history. Our course will begin with essential texts and continue through newer works that show the cultural challenges to be found in today’s complex environment. (Pre-requisite: ENGL210 for English majors, or ENGL101 or ENGL110 for non-English majors)