Reading Response #3

New DUE DATE: MONDAY February 17, 2003

Because I failed to get these posted early enough, you may now turn these in on Monday, February 17. You may still turn them in on Friday if you finish early enough.

Directions

Choose one question and construct a 3-page essay based on that question. You do not need to answer every one of the questions under each number. Rather, use the questions to springboard your own thinking to create an argument about the novel and the specific passages or ideas.

Remember: an argument should be arguable, meaning that people should disagree with you. In an essay this small, you should state a very clear thesis near the beginning of your essay. Then you should back up your thesis with evidence from the text. Do not merely quote from the text but explain what the passages say and mean.

You do not need to include the question in your essay. Your thesis and evidence should be enough for me to know what question you are dealing with. Begin with your own introduction that leads into your thesis.

Questions

1. The first page hints that Midaq Alley is eternal, unchanging, yet everything seems to be changing nonetheless. What is Mahfouz saying through these changes? Is the Alley still unchanging because these changes have always occurred?

2. Hussain Kirsha appears to be a very simple character, yet he is also very complicated. Construct an argument about the nature of his character and why he must leave Midaq Alley. As a character, is he flat or round, static or dynamic?

3. Why does Hamida argue for Salim Alwan instead of Abbas the barber? Do her current feelings contradict her earlier feelings for Abbas? How does her decision fit into her character? Is she a static character?