This document provides an overview of Arabic literature from its origins to modern times. It discusses how Arabic literature was produced in the Arabic language and included works from various regions. It outlines the major historical periods of Arabic literature from the 7th-21st centuries, highlighting important genres, writers, and cultural developments. Representative writers like Naguib Mahfouz, Nizar Qabbani, and Khalil Gibran are also introduced.

1. Arabic
Literature
‫العربي‬ ‫الدب‬

2. Arabic Literature
• Produced by writersin the Arabic
language.
• Adab istheArabic word for literature.
• Includesworksof Turks, Persians,
Syrians, Egyptians, Indians, Jewsand
other Africansand Asians, aswell as
theArabsthemselves.

3. Arabic Literature
• Not from literary motivesbut religiousand
practical needs.
Quran
* Finest literaturework in Arabic Language.

4. History and Culture
• Under theAbbasids(750-1258)
* Hellenic, Syrian, Pahlari, and
Sanskrit worksbecameavailablein
translation.
* Arabic Languagedeveloped as
vehicleof scienceand philosophy.

5. Pioneersof Arabic Prose
• Ibn al-Muqaffa
- Translator of the
Indian fablesof
KalilaAwaDimna

6. Pioneersof Arabic Prose
• Al-Jahiz
- Influential
Arab in the
establishment
of thebelles-
lettres
compedia.
(adab)

7. Riseof thenew Arabic-Persian
Cultureof Baghdaol

8. • Philosophy, mathematics, law,
Qur’anic interpretation and
criticism, history, and science
werecultivated.
• Collectionsof early Arabic poetry
werecompiled during thisperiod.

9. 4th
to 7th
Century
(Golden Ageof Lyric Poetry)

10. • Poems are strongly personal
qasidaor odes.
• The themes are love, fighting,
courageand chase.
• Poet speaks directly not
romantically, of nature and power
of God.

11. • Quran
- Primary document of Islamic.
• Poetry gained prestigeunder the
Umayyadsbecauseof Al-Alchtal
and Al-Farazdaq.

12. At theEnd of the8th
Century

13. • Abu Nuwas
- prominent court poet
• Omar Ibn al-Faridh
- greatest mystic poet
• Influenceof Indiaand Persiaseen
in Arabic proseromance.
• Thegreatest collection isthe
Thousand and OneNights.

14. Major Writers
• Bukhari
• Tabari
• Masudi
• Ibn Khaldun*
• Ibn al-Athir
• Ibn Batuta

15. • Spanish Arabsproduced fine
poetsand scholars.
• Their worksbecameknown in
Europe.

16. During the19th
Century

17. • Printing in Arabic began in
earnest.
• Newspapers, encyclopedia, and
bookswerepublished.
• Interest in modern Arabic
Literatureincreased becauseof
Naguib Mahfouz.

18. 20th
and 21st
Century

19. • Famouswritersinclude:
Abdelrahman Munit, Sonallah
Dorahim, YahyaHakki, Uhassan
Kanati, AlaaAl Aswany, Elias
Khoury, and Mahmoud Saeed.
• International Prizefor Arabic
Fiction stimulated theinterest of
Arabic Fiction.

20. Characteristics& Significance

21. Characteristics
• Thestructureof theArabic
Language.
• Thetypical poem of thisperiod is
theqasidah.
* Abu Al-Farat Al-Isfahani
* Kitab al-Hayawan
* Kitab al-Bayan waal-Tabyin
* Kitab al-Bukhala

22. Significance
• Quran, theprimary document.
• It has114 suraswhich contain
6,236 ayat.
• It containsinjunctions, narratives,
homilies, and parables,
• TheQuran istheholy book of
Islam.

23. RepresentativeWriters

24. Naguib Mahfouz
• Wasborn in
December 11, 1911
and died in August
30, 2006.
• An Egyptian writer.
• Heisregarded as
oneof thefirst
contemporary
writersof Arabic
Literature.

25. Hepublished
• 50 novels
• 350 short stories
• 12 of moviescripts
• 5 playsover a70 yearscareer

26. Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani
(21 March 1923 – 30
April 1998)
- WasaSyrian
diplomat, poet and
publisher.
- Born in theSyrian
Capital of
Damascus.
- Studied at theNat’l
Scientific College
School.

27. • Helater studied law at the
DamascusUniversity.
• After graduating from law school,
heworked for theSyrian Foreign
Ministry.

28. Khalil Gibaran
January 6, 1883 – April 10,
1931
- Lebaneseartist, poet and
writer
- Born in thetown of
Bsharri in thenorth of
modern-day Lebanon.
- Immigrated with his
family to theU.S.
- Literary and political rebel.

29. - Third best-selling poet of all time.
- Died in New York City (48 years
old)
“I am not politician, nor do I wish
to becomeone.” and “Spareme
thepolitical eventsand power
struggles, asthewholeearth is
my homeland and all men aremy
fellow countrymen.”

30. •Prepared by:
Teresa Mae J. Garcia