CMLIT 449Literary Cultures of Islam

3 credits · Comparative Literature · Penn State

Comparative discussion of the literary cultures of Islam from the seventh century to the present. CMLIT 449 Literary Cultures of Islam (3-6) (IL) (BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.This course is an advanced introduction to the literary cultures of the Islamic world, from the seventh century to the present. No prior knowledge is required. Works will be read in translation. Students will study the foundational text of Islam, the Quran, as a literary text, and learn about major genres of Islamic literatures (ghazal, masnavi, and maqamah, among others). They will also examine how these genres have been adapted in modern literature and media (novels, memoirs, and film). Supplementary historical readings will be provided to contextualize the primary texts. CMLIT 449 is one of the many courses which count toward the Comparative Literature major and the World Literature minor.