Dying to Read: Reflections on the Ends of Literacy
Dying to Read: Reflections on the Ends of Literacy by Michael Allan
Introduction to The Arabic Novel
The story of the Arabic novel is foundational fiction within Arabic literary history.
Questions to consider regarding the Arabic novel:
Is it an imperial literary form that evolved from foreign models?
Is it rooted in pre-existing Arabic storytelling traditions?
The dichotomy of local versus global narratives influences the understanding of the genre.
Key authors highlighted include:
‘Abd al-Muhsin Taha Badr
Roger Allen
Sabry Hafez
Matti Moosa
The narrative of the Arabic novel is exemplified by Naguib Mahfouz, Nobel Prize winner in 1988.
Historical Context and Narrative Transformation
The narrative of historical transformation related to the Arabic novel is addressed by Abdelfattah Kilito.
Kilito critiques the notion that the modern Arabic novel originated solely from European influences, emphasizing:
The role of Arabic literary traditions, particularly through the lens of philology.
Arabic terms like qi. s. sa (story) and maq¯ama (a type of narrative) have significant implications for understanding narrative forms.
Discussion of genres in Arabic storytelling including:
maq¯ama
had¯ıth
hik¯aya
riw¯aya
Kilito argues for the global significance of the Arabic novel, positing that one cannot fully understand the global novel without recognizing Arabic storytelling traditions' impact.
Modern Arabic Literature Dynamics
The focus of contemporary scholarship has shifted towards understanding:
Issues of displacement, migration, and translation as central themes in modern Arabic novels.
Notable Arabic novels:
Ahmad Faris al-Shidyaq’s Leg Over Leg
Tayeb Salih’s Season of Migration to the North
Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Bird of the East
Scholars like Rebecca Johnson, Shaden Tageldin, and others explore Arabic novels within a global literary framework, often emphasizing:
Differences between regional literary traditions (e.g., Maghreb vs. Mashriq) and generational shifts in writing.
Attention is also given to various subgenres within Arabic literature:
Samah Selim focuses on popular fiction.
Jonathan Smolin and Emily Drumsta on the detective novel.
Social Transformations and Modern Literacy
The burgeoning field of modern Arabic literature relates closely to social changes including:
Urbanization
Educational reforms (e.g., establishment of institutions like Teachers College and the Egyptian National Library) leading to altered reading practices.
Modern literacy diverges from traditional practices, promoting new reading experiences characterized by printed materials designed for the modern public.
The emergence of the novel facilitates new distinctions between literate and illiterate populations, which reflects societal transitions.
Modernity is intertwined with evolving tastes and values, termed adab (literary culture) in the Arab world.
The phenomenon of novel reading becomes central to shaping modern identity and sensibility amid a growing literate populace.
The Concept of Literacy
Literacy signifies more than mere reading skills; it encapsulates complex societal dynamics and cultural practices.
The definitions and ideologies surrounding literacy create divides between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ readers:
Readers may be judged based on their appreciation for and adherence to literary forms.
The novel’s structure often eclipses older forms of text engagement like memorization, establishing a modern literary framework and a new pathway for cultural engagement.