Arabic Novel Questions: The Return of the Spirit and The Yacoubian Building

The Return of the Spirit 1. During what period is the novel set? What were the pressing issues of the period as portrayed in the novel? [Maximum word limit: 100] 2.William Hutchins argues that Al-Hakim in his novel Return of the Spirit espouses Egyptian nationalist solidarity (“Novels of Everyday Life” in Tawfiq Al-Hakim : A Reader’s Guide, p. 15). How does Al-Hakim achieve this goal? What role does he conceive for the leader in the national unity and solidarity? Give specific examples from the novel that proves your point. [Maximum word limit: 500] 3. Applying the theoretical paradigm provided by Chatterjee, discuss the spiritual and the material domain of Egypt as depicted in the novel. [Maximum word limit: 500] 4. Why is Saniya’s mother hesitant to meet Muhsin and allow him in her house? [Maximum word limit: 200] The Yacoubian Building 1. What is Sheikh Muhammad Shakir’s opinion about the US-led war on Iraq? [Maximum word limit: 500] 2. Does the novel depict political and economic corruption in Egypt? Describe. [Maximum word limit: 500] 3. How does The Yacoubian Building’s portrayal of women differ from that of the Return of the Spirit? Discuss. [Maximum word limit: 500]