The Arabian Nights: Perception and Reception
| Module title | The Arabian Nights: Perception and Reception |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARA3197 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Christine Robins (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This class will introduce you to the famous Arabian Nights in translation, along with a number of topics important to the study of world literature in general, namely questions of translation and reception, especially of “folk” literature, as well as the representations of material culture in literature. The course will also focus on the themes of gender, sexuality, and magic in the Arabian Nights. You will become familiar with the most important translations of this work, as well as some of its adaptations in film, while focusing on the themes of sexuality, magic spells, genies, and material culture (such as depictions of foods and trade goods) in these famous and ancient tales.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims not only to give you a familiarity with one of the most famous works of Arabic literature in the “West,” but also an awareness of issues that are essential to an understanding of all world literature. This includes translation theory and practices, the construction of the author’s identity, the manner in which texts signal their truth value (i.e. do they present themselves as fact or fiction), and the effects of cross-genre and cross-cultural influences on literary traditions broadly speaking.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate in-depth comprehension of and familiarity with the themes and contents of the famous 1001 Nights
- 2. Demonstrate critical understanding of the intersection between folk literature, material culture, and spiritual and sexual practices
- 3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the impact of the 1001 Nights on Western culture, and the many ways that it has been changed and adapted in popular culture, both in writing and in film.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Critically analyse literary texts;
- 5. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and the ability to apply central ideas in literary theory;
- 6. Demonstrate specialist knowledge of critical debates surrounding world literature in general and as applied specifically to the Arabic literary tradition;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Apply theory to texts and contexts by reading critically and recognizing historical trends in scholarship
- 8. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills by deconstructing arguments and performing close readings
- 9. Rank sources and structure arguments in a clearly formulated and rigorous fashion
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Weeks 1-3 will introduce the Arabian Nights as well as some of the most important themes in the field of folk literature, with particular focus on questions of gender and magical thinking.
Weeks 4-6 will discuss the material cultural background of some of the stories in the 1001 Nights, as well as many of the magical practices that it describes, especially with regards to genies.
Weeks 7-10 will describe the adaptation and translation of the Arabian Nights in the “West,” both in films and books, with special focus on the obscene sexual content of some of its stories and the effect of that perceived obscenity on its reception.
Week 11 Presentations and Review
In addition to reading various translations from the 1001 Nights, the course will include a film screening of Pier Pasolini’s Il Fiore delle Mille e Una Note (1974) as well as The Thief of Baghdad (1978).
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour classes. You will need to complete all readings prior to class and be ready to participate. On some occasions you may be asked to participate. |
| Guided independent study | 68 | Reading and research |
| Guided independent study | 30 | Completing assignments |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Preparing for assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 plans, one for the essay and one for the presentation (250 words each) | 500 words | 1, 2, 3, 6 | Written and verbal feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 0 | 40 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic analysis of a text/s | 60 | 2,000 words | 1-9 | Written (supplemented with oral as required) |
| One solo 15 minute presentation | 40 | 10 minutes | 1-9 | Written and/ or verbal feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic analysis of texts | Thematic analysis of texts (2,000 words) 60% of credit | 1-9 | August / September reassessment period |
| Presentation | Solo 10-minute presentation 40% of credit | 1-9 | August/ September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights. 3 vols. Translated by Malcolm and Ursula Lyons (2008).
The Arabian Nights Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Edited by Ulrich Marzolph (2004).
Borges, J. L, “The Translators of the 1001 Nights” (1936).
Burton, R. “Terminal Essay,” from his translation of The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night (1885).
Gerhardt, M. The Art of Story Telling (1963).
Hejaiej, M. (1996) Behind Closed Doors: Women’s Oral Narratives in Tunis, London: Quartet
Irwin, R. The Arabian Nights: A Companion (1994).
Muhawi, I. Speak Bird, Speak Again: Palestinian Folk Tales (1989).
Piero Pasolini, Il fiore delle mille e una notte (1974).
Warner, M. Stranger Magic: Charmed States and the Arabian Nights (2011).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
vle.exeter.ac.uk
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/11/2015 |
| Last revision date | 08/03/2023 |
