MEL - Module Overview

Introduction

The Middle East is home to some of the earliest known civilizations and some of the most powerful empires in history. From the Assyrian empire to the Byzantine empire of the ancient Middle East, individuals have lived in varying types of societies depending on the ruler of the time period. Regardless of the ruling empire or deity, the individual must focus on improving the self by remaining virtuous and devoted to the Divine. The area of the Middle East focuses on the countries in Western Asia, such as Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. The influence of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam throughout the area manifests itself in the heavy religious and spiritual saturation in Middle Eastern literature.

Essential Questions

  1. What are the common themes appearing throughout Middle Eastern literature?
  2. How do the various genres of Middle Eastern literature reveal the history of independence and society in the Middle East?
  3. How do religion, spirituality, and philosophy play into the works of Middle Eastern literature?
  4. What is the best way to interpret and analyze the sacred texts of Middle Eastern literature?
  5. How is the folk literature of the Middle East different from the philosophical texts?

Key Terms

Wisdom Literature: Genre intended to teach about divinity and virtue

Mirrors for Princes: Genre of political writing that directly instructs kings and rules about behavior

Panegyric: A formal public speech, or (in later use) written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing or a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy.

Didacticism: is a philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature

Oral Tradition: stories passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth

Saj: rhymed prose

Hermeneutics: is the theory of text interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical, religious, and philosophical texts also known as exegesis

Maqama: genre of rhymed prose that is a cross between fiction and nonfiction

Folk Poetry: Turkish poetry meant to be sung, similar to hymns

Divan Poetry: Ottoman-Turkish poetry that was a highly ritualized and symbolic art form

Folklore: Turkish literature that reflects the problems peculiar to a settling (or settled) people who have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle.

Sufi Poetry: Poetry that focuses on the inner mystical dimensions of Islam'

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