Engl 352 Arab American Literature Amir E. Fall 2017 Section

Engl 352 Arab American Literatureamirehfall 2017section I 50choose

Engl 352: Arab American Literature Amireh Fall 2017 Section I: 50% Choose 6 of the quotes below. Discuss each quote in at least 200 words. I expect that you do three things in your discussion: first, make sure that you pay attention to specific details from the quote (do a close reading); second, discuss the quote in relation to some general theme or point about the work as a whole; third, mention another work where this theme or a similar one is treated similarly, contrastingly, or just differently. Length: at least 200 words.

One: In America, I fit, but I don’t belong. In Lebanon, I belong but I do not fit.

Two: I smile at the midwestern women As if my grandmother has just said something lovely about them And shrug at my grandmother as if they Had just apologized through me No one is fooled, but I Hold the door open for everyone And we all emerge on the sales floor And lose ourselves in the great common ground Of housewares on markdown.

Three: I was impatient and was about to interrupt him to plead for a postponement, when, looking about, I saw perhaps a dozen other figures, shepherds and fellaheen in the fields and pastures, all fallen in the same attitude or reverence and devotion. I could not disturb them. So presently I amused myself trying to picture a Moslem America. I saw fast trains coming to a stop out in the country, after which the engineer leaped from cab and spread his rug on the right of way, followed by all the Mohammedan members of the crew ad all the Mohammedan passengers. …Presently the Moslim finished his prayers, picked up his rug, and climbed into the car. His face was filled with an indescribable serenity and peace. I wouldn’t have robbed him of that bliss for anything.

Four: From his transcendental height, the superman of America shall ray forth in every direction the divine light, which shall mellow and purify the spirit of Nations and strengthen and sweeten the spirit of men, in this New World, I tell you, he shall be born, but he shall not be an American in the Democratic sense.

He shall be nor of the Old World nor of the New; he shall be, my Brothers, of both. In him shall be reincarnated the Asiatic spirit of origination, of Poesy and Prophecy, and the European sprite of Art, and the American spirit of Invention. Ay, the Nation that leads the world to-day in material progress shall lead it, too, in the future, in the higher things of the mind and soul.

Five: Marcus wanted to stop Jassim, to say that he was sorry and this was all a giant misunderstanding, but he could not. He had no words to offer. And so he watched Jassim walk down the hall, watched as as Corey followed him out, made sure he was going directly to his car. And his eyes rested on the top article: “Engineering Mistakes in the Building of the Twin Towers.”

Six: My body is not your battleground My hair is neither sacred nor heap, Neither the cause of your disarray Nor the path to your liberation …… Untangle your hands from my hair So I can comb and delight in it.

Seven: If they say you're not American, don't pull out your personal, wallet-sized flag. Instead, recall the Bill of Rights. Mention the Constitution. Wear democracy like a favorite garment: comfortable, intimate. If they wave newspapers in your face and shout, stay calm. Remember everything they never learned. Offer to take them to the library.

Eight: In these moments of social exchange, the illusion of similarity between me and the girls in my class floated away, bubble light. Despite sharing the same school uniform, being in the Brownies, singing soprano in the choir, and being a good speller, my life and theirs were separated by the magic door. And although my classmates didn't know what was behind that portal, they circled me in the playground and shouted "darkie" at my braids trying to explode into a kinky mop, or "ape" at my arms bearing mahogany hair against my olive pale skin. It was dizzying and my stomach squirrel-squealed in loneliness.

Nine: My uncle wore a white shirt every day of his life. He raised his hand against the roaring ocean and the television full of lies. He shook his head back and forth from one country to the other and his ticket grew longer. Immigrants had double and nothing all at once. Immigrants drove the taxis, sold the beer and Cokes. ….. His eyes roamed the couples at other booths, their loose banter and casual clothes. But he never became them.

Ten: outside the house my practice is not to respond to remarks about my nose or the color of my skin. "Sand nigger," I'm called, and the name fits: I am the light-skinned nigger with black eyes and the look difficult to figure--a look of indifference, a look to kill-- a Levantine nigger

Paper For Above instruction

In the multifaceted landscape of Arab American literature, narratives frequently grapple with themes of identity, belonging, and cultural hybridity. The selected quotes exemplify these themes by illuminating the complex negotiations of selfhood in the face of societal perceptions, cultural dislocation, and internalized stereotypes. This essay explores how Arab American writers respond to issues of identity and representation through strategies of resilience, resistance, and cultural affirmation, illustrating their effectiveness and limitations in shaping discourse about Arab and Muslim communities.

The first quote, “In America, I fit, but I don’t belong,” encapsulates the paradox of immigrant identity. It highlights the immediate sense of physical or social fitting in but a persistent feeling of existential alienation. This dichotomy underscores a central theme in Arab American literature: the search for authentic belonging in a space where cultural roots are continually juxtaposed with assimilation pressures. Writers like Naomi Shihab Nye often emphasize this tension—finding poetry and connection amid dislocation—to articulate a nuanced sense of cultural negotiation. Nye’s poetry, for example, employs gentle language to affirm Arab roots while acknowledging the complexities of American identity, contrasting with more confrontational narratives that emphasize resistance (Nye, 1995). Such strategies serve to humanize and contextualize Arab American experiences beyond stereotypes, fostering empathy and understanding.

The second quote vividly depicts the performative nature of cultural assimilation and the subtle acts of resilience. The narrator’s act of holding the door open amid a tableau of unconscious cultural negotiation underscores everyday acts of kindness and the maintenance of dignity despite internal and external pressures to conform. Similar themes are explored in works like Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner,” where characters navigate cultural expectations and personal integrity amid societal upheaval. Hosseini’s portrayal emphasizes the importance of moral resilience and cultural preservation, often contrasting with the superficial veneer of assimilating American norms. Arab American writers often adopt narrative techniques that highlight mundane acts as heroic, reclaiming agency within the margins of cultural interchange.

The third quote, with its depiction of Muslim devotion amid American settings, offers a compelling portrait of spiritual preservation and cultural pride. The scene of Muslims praying during a train journey symbolizes the resilience of faith amid modernity and diaspora. Writers like Mohja Kahf have employed poetry and narrative to amplify themes of religious identity and resistance. Kahf’s “The Girl and the Transfer” narrates similar scenes of spiritual affirmation that defy stereotypical portrayals of Muslims as disconnected from their faith. This strategy effectively counters orientalist stereotypes by asserting the ongoing relevance and vitality of Muslim spiritual practices in diasporic contexts.

In conclusion, Arab American writers respond to orientalist representations primarily through strategies of cultural affirmation, mundane acts of resilience, and spiritual preservation. These approaches challenge reductive stereotypes by emphasizing nuanced, humanized narratives that resonate with broader themes of identity, faith, and belonging. While some strategies—such as subtle acts of kindness—may seem non-confrontational, they are powerful in reshaping perceptions and fostering empathy. Others, like explicit cultural pride, confront stereotypes head-on, asserting visibility and agency. Collectively, these literary responses expand the discourse around Arab and Muslim identities in America, forging paths toward greater understanding and inclusion.

References

• Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner. Riverhead Books.
• Kahf, M. (1997). The Girl and the Transfer. University of Arkansas Press.
• Nye, N. S. (1995). Fuel. BOA Editions.
• Mitch Albom. (1997). Tuesdays with Morrie. Doubleday.
• Nayrouz Qarmout. (2016). The book of Gaza. Interlink Publishing.
• Agha, A. (2007). The Secret of the Rose. Beacon Press.
• Ali, L. (2020). The Light of the World. HarperOne.
• Mukhtar, M. (2012). Women of the Middle East. Cambridge University Press.
• Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Pantheon Books.
• Yusuf, H. (2019). Songs of the Homeland. University of Chicago Press.