Arabic Reading Group: Salwa Bakr’s The Shrine of Sitt Attia

In Arabic the word for a neighborhood or quarter is hayy. It’s derived from the same root as the word hayah, or “life.” A place, this seems to suggest, is a living organism in its own right, with its own particular, ever-developing character. But in what sense is a place “alive”? And how can we understand the interrelationship between a “living” place and its human (and animal) inhabitants?

In this reading course, we will take up Salwa Bakr’s novella The Shrine of Sitt Attia to explore its representation of place and the role it plays in the construction of Bakr’s literary text. Together we will interrogate what its characters make of the popular quarter they inhabit. What does it mean to form attachments to a particular place? In what ways does gendered care work contribute to various forms of communal solidarity, or blur the porous boundaries between the public and private sphere? What narrative strategies does Bakr employ to transform a mere “place” into a specific space with a distinct history and dynamic network of communal relations? How do stories centered on a saintly figure sacralize space and construct local histories into legendary lore?

This reading course is specifically designed for students who can read Arabic at an intermediate level, have a strong desire to increase reading proficiency, and are interested in contemporary Arabic literature and Arabic literary traditions. Students are strongly encouraged to read The Shrine of Sitt Attia in translation before the start of the course. During class, we will read selected excerpts in the target language.

Course Schedule

Monday, 6:30-8:30pm ET
June 01 — July 13, 2026
6 sessions over 7 weeks
Class will not meet Monday, July 6th.

$335.00

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