ARAB 041. Self and Nation in Mahmoud Darwish's Poetry and Prose

As one of the greatest, most distinct voices in Arabic literature, Mahmoud Darwish has played a significant role in shaping Palestinian national identity politics and cultural imaginations, while also offering thoughtful reflections on the human condition more broadly. This course explores how Darwish's poetry and prose articulate themes like homeland, exile, displacement, dispossession, loss, love, nostalgia, death, and grief. Our examinations of his prominent texts serve as a gateway to understanding the story of Palestine and to analyzing the tensions between individual and national identity, history and mythology, memory and forgetfulness, and peace and conflict. Additionally, the course pays special attention to Darwish's literary innovations and the stylistic features of his work, which grant him a central spot on the vast Arabic literary map. This course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Advanced knowledge of Arabic is required to successfully complete this course.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Eligible for ISLM.
Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic
Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic

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