ARAB CULTURE AND LITERATURE I

Knowledge and Understanding:

Students are expected to acquire the methodological tools necessary to develop an adequate capacity for critical engagement with literary texts and other forms of cultural expression. Emphasis will also be placed on enhancing critical thinking skills and a sound command of foundational knowledge, both of which serve as essential factors in fostering critical application and the identification of interdisciplinary connections.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding:

Through the knowledge and understanding acquired via lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and guided readings, students will be equipped to approach literary texts with flexibility and critical awareness, integrating their knowledge in an interdisciplinary manner.

Independent Judgement:

By drawing on the linguistic and cultural tools they have acquired, students will be able to apply their competencies and knowledge autonomously in order to read, understand, and interpret literary passages, the linguistic complexity and cultural content of which will be appropriate to their level of proficiency.

Communication Skills:

Students will be capable of effectively conveying the knowledge gained throughout the course, expressing themselves in a clear, well-structured, and competent manner, with a solid command of subject-specific terminology.

Learning Skills:

Students will be able to employ a range of learning techniques (peer tutoring, lateral thinking, problem solving) to identify their own autonomous and effective study method. Furthermore, through selected critical readings and direct engagement with texts, they will be able to refine their interpretative abilities toward the clear identification of key elements within a given process and its potential developments—also with a view to designing cultural and interdisciplinary projects.

The course aims to introduce students to the history of Arabic literature through the study of the principal literary genres and textual typologies that developed during the classical and post-classical periods.

Through the guided reading and analysis of literary passages, students will engage in the translation of both adapted and authentic texts, as well as in the study of the cultural aspects of Arab-Islamic civilisation.

The literary texts, representative of various genres, will be examined in the original language and/or in translation, also in comparison with other texts that address similar themes and motifs.

Textual analysis will be supported by critical readings recommended by the lecturer.

1) Reference textbooks:

Corrao M.F., Ruocco M. (a cura di), Letteratura araba. Dall'epoca preislamica all'età postclassica, Vol. 1, Mondadori Education, Milano, 2024. (pp. 3-208; 251-346).

Antologia della letteratura araba. Dalle origini al XVIII secolo, Cassarino, Ghersetti, Osti, Pagani, Carocci, Roma 2024 (pp. 31-83; 285-341; 343-388).

2) Further readings on selected themes:

M. Cassarino (a cura di), Le mille e una notte. Le storie più belle, Einaudi, 2006:

- pp.V-XVIII (Prefazione);

- pp. XIX-XXIV (A. Kilito, “Il libro magico”);

- pp. 3-12 / 967-968 (Racconto cornice);

3 ) Critical insights provided by the lecturer

4) Literary excerpts in Arabic provided by the lecturer

 Dictionary:

R. Traini: “Vocabolario arabo-italiano”, Roma IPO, 1965-1973 (and subsequent reprints).

Additional Recommended Readings:

D. Amaldi, Storia della letteratura araba classica, Zanichelli, 2004.

I. Licitra, Il Canzoniere di al-Ballanūbī: studio, edizioni, traduzioni, Collana La Sicilia islamica: testi, ricerche letterarie e linguistiche, diretta da Mirella Cassarino, Istituto per l’Oriente C. A. Nallino, Roma, 2021.

Additional materials and handouts containing texts in Arabic will be provided by the lecturer via the Studium platform.

STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND THE LESSONS MUST CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR TO ARRANGE A SPECIFIC PROGRAM.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.