Department of English

This course explores how Palestinians and Israelis narrate their personal and national stories in literature. We will examine how authors create a sense of identity and how they express their sense of belonging to the land they co-inhabit.  We will examine different representations of common themes, such as land and memory, loss and longing, the figure of the exile and the refugee, war and occupation, oppression and resistance. Readings will include a variety of genres, such as memoirs, novels, reportage, and poetry in translation. Students who can read Hebrew or Arabic are welcome. Authors may include Ghassan Kanafani, Sahar Khalifeh, Mahmoud Darwish, Emile Habiby, Anton Shamas, S. Yizhar, Yehuda Amicahi,  A. B. Yehoshua, Amoz Oz, Aharon Appelfeld, David Grossman.