Literature and Texts of Abbasid Era

Course Main Objective

To make students acquainted with the factors affecting the Abbasid literature and the literary issues of the same period, characteristics of its poetry and prose and their attitudes, most prominent writers; to enable student to approach and be acquainted with the ancient literary texts and learn about their styles and contents and study poetic and prosaic texts reflect the same period. 

Course Learning Outcomes

• 1. Knowledge and Comprehension
•    1.1 Explain the political and social circumstances of the Abbasid period and their impact on the Abbasid mentality, poetic purposes and the artistic trends of the most prominent poets. 
• 2. Skills 
  
•    2.1 Analyze literary genres (prose and poetry) to highlight the artistic features belong to the most prominent writers.
•    2.2 Use communication and information technology and learning resources upon dealing with a literary work or texts belonging to the Abbasid period.
• 3. Values 
•   3.1 Assume individual, collective and leading responsibility and respect professional relationships upon performing the assignments.
•   3.2 Abide with the deadline of those assignments relating to the Abbasid literature observing the scientific and academic integrity.

Course Content

1. An introduction to the course and its requirements.
2. An introduction to the impact of the political and social circumstances in the intellectual life of the Abbasid era with its two periods and a study of poetic texts reflecting the said impact.
3. The poetic purposes and their attitudes and most prominent poets: (Ghazal "love poetry", asceticism and wisdom, description of nature, praise, satire, depiction, pride) and studying examples from them.
4. Nature of poetry revival movement for Bashaar and Abou Nawas
5. Doctrine of pretention and naturalism for Abou Tammam and Al-Buhturi
6. Aspects of figurative uniqueness for Al-Mutanabi and Abou Al-'Alaa
7. Prosaic genres: tales, travel literature, Maqamaat, literary messages, preachment and speeches, a study of selected texts reflect such genres along with highlighting the technical features of prose-writers' writings.

Textbook (s) 

- Daif, Shawky. First Abbasid Dynasty. Dar Al-Maaref, Cairo, 23rd ed. 2017.
- Daif, Shawky. Second Abbasid Dynasty. Dar Al-Maaref, Cairo, 23rd ed. 2017.

Course ID: ARAB 303