Arabic Literature

LIT 301
World Literature
Histor
T!e "eriod o# I$%ora%ce &Al-jahiliyyah)
A% elaborate' orall tra%s(itted cor)us o# )oetr' )assed do*% #ro( o%e
$e%eratio% to a%ot!er b bards' a%d !i$!l )ri+ed *it!i% t!e tribal
e%,iro%(e%t o# t!e Arabia% "e%i%sula-
"oetr
.u/alla0at
"olt!e(atic )oe(s celebrati%$ tribal ,alues t!at *ere reco$%i+ed #or
t!eir le%$t! a%d t!e aut!e%ticit o# t!eir ,isio% re$ardi%$ t!e tribal li#e o#
t!e desert-
T!e(es #ro( earlier )oetr
Lo,e &$!a+al1
Hu%ti%$
Wi%e
Asceticis(
"raise "oetr &"a%e$ric1
Addressed to rulers a%d )atro%s' *!o *ould i%creasi%$l be #ou%d at t!e
court o# (a2or Isla(ic cities-
3!u/ubia!
"oets #ro( di##ere%t cultures asserted t!e su)eriorit o# t!eir traditio%s a%d
t!e% set about #usi%$ t!e( i%to a %e* a%d d%a(ic est!etic a%d critical
e%,iro%(e%t-
3u#is( &Isla(ic .sticis(1
A stra%d o# )oetr t!at *as es)eciall ,i$orous duri%$ t!e )eriod bet*ee%
13
t!
a%d 14
t!
ce%tur-
Wit! its i%,ocatio% o# t!e ,ocabular o# *i%e a%d lo,e )oetr as a (ea%s
o# e5)ressi%$ t!e 0uest #or a state o# obli,io% &#a%a/1 t!rou$! *!ic! t!e
belie,er could as)ire to a 6%o*led$e o# t!e tra%sce%de%t-
7arrati,e a%d 8ssa
As is t!e case i% (a% *orld cultural traditio%s' t!e ori$i%s o# 9)rose
*riti%$: i% Arabic lie i% t!e real( o# bureaucrac a%d es)eciall letter;
*riti%$ &t!e c!a%cer1-
T!e ori$i%s o# t!e (o,e(e%t are closel associated *it! t*o )!e%o(e%a<
T!e tra%slatio% o# *or6s #ro( ot!er cultures i%to Arabic' be$i%%i%$ i% t!e
4
t!
= >
t!
ce%turies-
T!e e(er$e%ce o# a disci)li%e called i% Arabic adab' i()li%$ correct
be!a,ior a%d t!e obser,a%ce o# )ro)er cultural %or(s-
?adi/ al +a(a%
@%o*% as Wonder of the Era
Wrote a series o# a(usi%$ ,i$%ettes
.a0a(at = a series *!ic! t!e %arrator a%d ro$ue tour arou%d t!e
.iddle 8ast' )o6e #u% at t!e #oibles o# (a%6i%d a%d )roduce
)astic!es o# ot!er t)es o# co()ositio%-
Alf laylah wa-laylah
&A%e T!ousa%d a%d A%e 7i$!ts1
&T!e Arabia% 7i$!ts1
3i%bad &3i%dbad1 t!e 3ailor
3i%bad also s)elled 3i%dbad' !ero o# T!e T!ousa%d a%d A%e 7i$!ts *!o recou%ts
!is ad,e%tures o% se,e% ,oa$es-
?ased o% t!e e5)erie%ces o# (erc!a%ts #ro( ?asra &Ira01 tradi%$ u%der $reat ris6
*it! t!e 8ast I%dies a%d B!i%a i% t!e earl Abbasid )eriod-
Cra(e stor
3i%bad is (aroo%ed or s!i)*rec6ed a#ter !e sets sail #ro( ?asra *it!
(erc!a%dise- He is able to sur,i,e t!e terrible da%$ers !e e%cou%ters b a
co(bi%atio% o# resource#ul%ess a%d luc6 a%d retur%s !o(e *it! a #ortu%e- 3i%bad/s
(o,e(e%t #ro( )ros)erit to loss' e5)erie%ced duri%$ a ,oa$e #illed *it!
ad,e%ture' a%d bac6 to )ros)erit' ac!ie,ed *!e% !e retur%s !o(e' is re)eated i% t!e
structure o# eac! tale-
T!e Tales
3i%bad t!e "orter a%d 3i%bad t!e 3ailor
I% t!e das o# Harou% al;Das!id' Bali)! o# ?a$!dad' a )oor )orter &o%e *!o
carries $oods #or ot!ers i% t!e (ar6et a%d t!rou$!out t!e cit1 )auses to rest o% a
be%c! outside t!e $ate o# a ric! (erc!a%tEs !ouse' *!ere !e co()lai%s to Alla!
about t!e i%2ustice o# a *orld *!ic! allo*s t!e ric! to li,e i% ease *!ile !e (ust toil
a%d et re(ai% )oor- T!e o*%er o# t!e !ouse !ears' a%d se%ds #or t!e )orter' a%d it is
#ou%d t!e are bot! %a(ed 3i%bad- T!e ric! 3i%bad tells t!e )oor 3i%bad t!at !e
beca(e *ealt!' Fb Cortu%e a%d CateF' i% t!e course o# se,e% *o%drous ,oa$es'
*!ic! !e t!e% )roceeds to relate-
T!e Cirst Goa$e 9Hi$a%tic 3lee)i%$ W!ale:
A#ter dissi)ati%$ t!e *ealt! le#t to !i( b !is #at!er' 3i%bad $oes to sea to
re)air !is #ortu%e- He sets as!ore o% *!at a))ears to be a% isla%d' but t!is isla%d
)ro,es to be a $i$a%tic slee)i%$ *!ale o% *!ic! trees !a,e ta6e% root e,er si%ce t!e
*orld *as ou%$- A*a6e%ed b a #ire 6i%dled b t!e sailors' t!e *!ale di,es i%to t!e
de)t!s' t!e s!i) de)arts *it!out 3i%bad' a%d 3i%bad is sa,ed b t!e c!a%ce o# a
)assi%$ *oode% trou$! se%t b t!e $race o# Alla!- He is *as!ed as!ore o% a de%sel
*ooded isla%d- W!ile e5)lori%$ t!e deserted isla%d !e co(es across o%e o# t!e
6i%$Es $roo(s- W!e% 3i%bad !el)s sa,e t!e @i%$Es (are #ro( bei%$ dro*%ed b a
sea !orse &%ot a sea!orses *e 6%o* it' but a su)er%atural !orse t!at li,es
u%der*ater1' t!e $roo( bri%$s 3i%bad to t!e 6i%$- T!e 6i%$ be#rie%ds 3i%bad a%d so
!e rises i% t!e 6i%$Es #a,our a%d beco(es a trusted courtier- A%e da' t!e ,er s!i)
o% *!ic! 3i%bad set sail doc6s at t!e isla%d' a%d !e reclai(s !is $oods &still i% t!e
s!i)Es !old1- 3i%bad $i,es t!e 6i%$ !is $oods a%d i% retur% t!e 6i%$ $i,es !i( ric!
)rese%ts- 3i%bad sells t!ese )rese%ts #or a $reat )ro#it- 3i%bad retur%s to ?a$!dad
*!ere !e resu(es a li#e o# ease a%d )leasure- Wit! t!e e%di%$ o# t!e tale' 3i%bad t!e
sailor (a6es 3i%bad t!e )orter a $i#t o# a !u%dred $old )ieces' a%d bids !i( retur%
t!e %e5t da to !ear (ore about !is ad,e%tures-
T!e 3eco%d Goa$e 9T!e Galle o# t!e Iia(o%ds:
3i%bad t!e sailor tells !o* !e $re* restless o# !is li#e o# leisure' a%d set to sea
a$ai%' F)ossessed *it! t!e t!ou$!t o# tra,eli%$ about t!e *orld o# (e% a%d seei%$ t!eir
cities a%d isla%ds-F Accide%tall aba%do%ed b !is s!i)(ates a$ai%' !e #i%ds !i(sel#
stra%ded i% a% isla%d *!ic! co%tai%s roc e$$s- He attac!es !i(sel# to a roc a%d is
tra%s)orted to a ,alle o# $ia%t s%a6es *!ic! ca% s*allo* ele)!a%tsJ t!ese ser,e as t!e
rocsE %atural )re- T!e #loor o# t!e ,alle is car)eted *it! dia(o%ds' a%d (erc!a%ts
!ar,est t!ese b t!ro*i%$ !u$e c!u%6s o# (eat i%to t!e ,alle< t!e birds carr t!e (eat
bac6 to t!eir %ests' a%d t!e (e% dri,e t!e birds a*a a%d collect t!e dia(o%ds stuc6 to
t!e (eat- T!e *il 3i%bad stra)s o%e o# t!e )ieces o# (eat to !is bac6 a%d is carried
bac6 to t!e %est alo%$ *it! a lar$e sac6 #ull o# )recious $e(s- Descued #ro( t!e %est
b t!e (erc!a%ts' !e retur%s to ?a$!dad *it! a #ortu%e i% dia(o%ds' seei%$ (a%
(ar,els alo%$ t!e *a-
T!e T!ird Goa$e 9Hia%t "ol)!e(us:
Destless #or tra,el a%d ad,e%ture' 3i%bad sets sail a$ai% #ro( ?asra- ?ut b
ill c!a%ce !e a%d !is co()a%io%s are cast u) o% a% isla%d *!ere t!e are ca)tured b'
Fa !u$e creature i% t!e li6e%ess o# a (a%' blac6 o# colour --- *it! ees li6e coals o# #ire
a%d ee;teet! li6e boarEs tus6s a%d a ,ast bi$ $a)e li6e t!e (out! o# a *ell- .oreo,er'
!e !ad lo%$ loose li)s li6e ca(elsE' !a%$i%$ do*% u)o% !is breast a%d ears li6e t*o
Kar(s #alli%$ o,er !is s!oulder;blades a%d t!e %ails o# !is !a%ds *ere li6e t!e cla*s o#
a lio%-F T!is (o%ster be$i%s eati%$ t!e cre*' be$i%%i%$ *it! t!e Deis &ca)tai%1' *!o is
t!e #attest-
3i%bad !atc!es a )la% to bli%d t!e beast *it! t!e t*o red;!ot iro% s)its *it! *!ic! t!e
(o%ster !as bee% 6ebabi%$ a%d roasti%$ t!e s!i)Es co()a%- He a%d t!e re(ai%i%$ (e%
esca)e o% a ra#t t!e co%structed t!e da be#ore- Ho*e,er' t!e Hia%tEs (ate !its (ost
o# t!e esca)i%$ (e% *it! roc6s a%d t!e are 6illed- A#ter #urt!er ad,e%tures &i%cludi%$
a $i$a%tic )t!o% #ro( *!ic! 3i%bad esca)es usi%$ !is 0uic6 *its1' !e retur%s to
?a$!dad' *ealt!ier t!a% e,er-
T!e Court! Goa$e 9T!e Hia%t Doc:
I()elled b restless%ess 3i%bad ta6es to t!e seas a$ai%' a%d' as usual' is
s!i)*rec6ed- T!e %a6ed sa,a$es a(o%$st *!o( !e #i%ds !i(sel# #eed !is co()a%io%s
a !erb *!ic! robs t!e( o# t!eir reaso%' )rior to #atte%i%$ t!e( #or t!e table- 3i%bad
reali+es *!at is !a))e%i%$' a%d re#uses to eat t!e (ad%ess;i%duci%$ )la%t- W!e% t!e
ca%%ibals !a,e lost i%terest i% !i(' !e esca)es- A )art o# iti%era%t )e))er;$at!erers
tra%s)orts !i( to t!eir o*% isla%d' *!ere t!eir 6i%$ be#rie%ds !i( a%d $i,es !i( a
beauti#ul a%d *ealt! *i#e-
Too late 3i%bad lear%s o# a )eculiar custo( o# t!e la%d< o% t!e deat! o# o%e
(arria$e )art%er' t!e ot!er is buried ali,e *it! !is or !er s)ouse' bot! i% t!eir #i%est
clot!es a%d (ost costl 2e*els- 3i%badEs *i#e #alls ill a%d dies soo% a#ter' lea,i%$
3i%bad tra))ed i% a% u%der$rou%d ca,er%' a co((u%al to(b' *it! a 2u$ o# *ater a%d
se,e% )ieces o# bread- Kust as t!ese (ea$er su))lies are al(ost e5!austed' a%ot!er
cou)leLt!e !usba%d dead' t!e *i#e ali,eLare dro))ed i%to t!e ca,er%- 3i%bad
blud$eo%s t!e *i#e to deat! a%d ta6es !er ratio%s-
3uc! e)isodes co%ti%ueJ soo% !e !as a si+able store o# bread a%d *ater' as
*ell as t!e $old a%d $e(s #ro( t!e cor)ses' but is still u%able to esca)e' u%til o%e da a
*ild a%i(al s!o*s !i( a )assa$e to t!e outside' !i$! abo,e t!e sea- Cro( !ere a
)assi%$ s!i) rescues !i( a%d carries !i( bac6 to ?a$!dad' *!ere !e $i,es al(s to t!e
)oor a%d resu(es !is li#e o# )leasure-
T!e Ci#t! Goa$e 9 Ald .a% o# t!e 3ea:
FW!e% I !ad bee% a *!ile o% s!ore a#ter ( #ourt! ,oa$eJ a%d *!e%' i% (
co(#ort a%d )leasures a%d (err;(a6i%$s a%d i% ( re2oici%$ o,er ( lar$e $ai%s a%d
)ro#its' I !ad #or$otte% all I !ad e%dured o# )erils a%d su##eri%$s' t!e car%al (a% *as
a$ai% sei+ed *it! t!e lo%$i%$ to tra,el a%d to see #orei$% cou%tries a%d isla%ds-F 3oo% at
sea o%ce (ore' *!ile )assi%$ a desert isla%d 3i%badEs cre* s)ots a $i$a%tic e$$ t!at
3i%bad reco$%i+es as belo%$i%$ to a roc- Aut o# curiosit t!e s!i)Es )asse%$ers dise(bar6
to ,ie* t!e e$$' o%l to e%d u) brea6i%$ it a%d !a,i%$ t!e c!ic6 i%side as a (eal- 3i%bad
i((ediatel reco$%i+es t!e #oll o# t!eir be!a,ior a%d orders all bac6 aboard s!i)-
Ho*e,er' t!e i%#uriated )are%t rocs soo% catc! u) *it! t!e ,essel a%d destro it b
dro))i%$ $ia%t boulders t!e !a,e carried i% t!eir talo%s-
3!i)*rec6ed et a$ai%' 3i%bad is e%sla,ed b t!e Ald .a% o# t!e 3ea'
*!o rides o% !is s!oulders *it! !is le$s t*isted rou%d 3i%badEs %ec6 a%d *ill %ot let $o'
ridi%$ !i( bot! da a%d %i$!t u%til 3i%bad *ould *elco(e deat!-
8,e%tuall' 3i%bad (a6es *i%e a%d tric6s t!e Ald .a% i%to dri%6i%$ so(e-
3i%bad 6ills !i( a#ter !e !as #alle% o##' a%d t!e% !e esca)es- A s!i) carries !i( to t!e Bit
o# t!e A)es' a )lace *!ose i%!abita%ts s)e%d eac! %i$!t i% boats o##;s!ore' *!ile t!eir
to*% is aba%do%ed to (a%;eati%$ a)es- Met t!rou$! t!e a)es 3i%bad recou)s !is #ortu%e'
a%d so e,e%tuall #i%ds a s!i) *!ic! ta6es !i( !o(e o%ce (ore to ?a$!dad-
T!e 3i5t! Goa$e 9 T!e Hi$a%tic Doc 8$$:
F. soul ear%ed #or tra,el a%d tra##icF- 3i%bad is s!i)*rec6ed et a$ai%' t!is
ti(e 0uite ,iole%tl as !is s!i) is das!ed to )ieces o% tall cli##s- T!ere is %o #ood to be
!ad a%*!ere' a%d 3i%badEs co()a%io%s die o# star,atio% u%til o%l !e is le#t- He builds a
ra#t a%d disco,ers a ri,er ru%%i%$ out o# a ca,er% be%eat! t!e cli##s- T!e strea( )ro,es to
be #illed *it! )recious sto%es a%d beco(es a))are%t t!at t!e isla%dEs strea(s #lo* *it!
a(ber$ris- He #alls aslee) as !e 2our%es t!rou$! t!e dar6%ess a%d a*a6e%s i% t!e cit o#
t!e 6i%$ o# 3ere%dib &Belo%' 3ri La%6a1' Fdia(o%ds are i% its ri,ers a%d )earls are i% its
,allesF- T!e 6i%$ (ar,els at *!at 3i%bad tells !i( o# t!e $reat Harou% al;Das!id' a%d
as6s t!at !e ta6e a )rese%t bac6 to ?a$!dad o% !is be!al#' a cu) car,ed #ro( a si%$le
rub' *it! ot!er $i#ts i%cludi%$ a bed (ade #ro( t!e s6i% o# t!e ser)e%t t!at s*allo*ed
t!e ele)!a%t &Fa%d *!oso sittet! u)o% it %e,er sic6e%et!F1' a%d Fa !u%dred t!ousa%d
(is6als o# 3i%d! li$%;aloesaF' a%d a sla,e;$irl Fli6e a s!i%i%$ (oo%F- A%d 3i%bad retur%s
to ?a$!dad' *!ere t!e Bali)! *o%ders $reatl at t!e re)orts 3i%bad $i,es o# t!e la%d o#
Belo%-
T!e 3e,e%t! a%d t!e Last Goa$e 9T!e Bara,a%:
T!e e,er;restless 3i%bad sets sail o%ce (ore' *it! t!e usual result- Bast u) o% a
desolate s!ore' !e co%structs a ra#t a%d #loats do*% a %earb ri,er to a $reat cit- Here t!e
c!ie# o# t!e (erc!a%ts *eds 3i%bad to !is dau$!ter' %a(es !i( !is !eir' a%d co%,e%ie%tl
dies- T!e i%!abita%ts o# t!is cit are tra%s#or(ed o%ce a (o%t! i%to birds' a%d 3i%bad !as
o%e o# t!e bird;)eo)le carr !i( to t!e u))er(ost reac!es o# t!e s6' *!ere !e !ears t!e
a%$els $lori#i%$ Hod' F*!ereat I *o%dered a%d e5clai(ed' E"raised be HodN 85tolled be
t!e )er#ectio% o# HodNEF ?ut %o soo%er are t!e *ords out a%d co(es #ire #ro( !ea,e%
*!ic! all but co%su(es t!e bird;(e%- T!e bird;)eo)le are a%$r *it! 3i%bad a%d set !i(
do*% o% a (ou%tai%;to)' *!ere !e (eets t*o out!s *!o are t!e ser,a%ts o# Hod a%d
*!o $i,e !i( a $olde% sta##J retur%i%$ to t!e cit' 3i%bad lear%s #ro( !is *i#e t!at t!e
bird;(e% are de,ils' alt!ou$! s!e a%d !er #at!er are %ot o# t!eir %u(ber- A%d so' at !is
*i#eEs su$$estio%' 3i%bad sells all !is )ossessio%s a%d retur%s *it! !er to ?a$!dad' *!ere
at last !e resol,es to li,e 0uietl i% t!e e%2o(e%t o# !is *ealt!' a%d to see6 %o (ore
ad,e%tures-