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Critical Essay on novel: The tree of pearls by Jurji Zaydan. The book was written at the beginning of the twentieth century as the Ottoman Empire
started to break apart. The author was an important literary and intellectual figure and
introduced the historical fiction novel to Arab literature. Although the novel takes place in
the 13th century at the end of an Egyptian dynasty, it deals with themes that were very
important to its twentieth-century Arab readers.
Essay Option #1: Why does Zayden set this story in the past? What does a historical setting
do that a contemporary one could not? Why write a novel instead of a nonfiction history
book? What does Zayden hope to accomplish with a historical fiction novel? Where do you
see this reflected in the text?
Essay Option #2: Zayden believed in the importance of education, particularly the
importance of knowing one’s own history. Why was history important to him? What did he
think knowing history would do for people? Where do you see the importance of history
reflected in this novel? What history does he want people to know? Why?
Do not summarize the book apart from giving necessary and relevant background
information. You are not writing a book report or review; you are writing an analysis of the
book.
A strong critical essay will include the following:
• 4-6 pages
• Complete sentences – no bullet points or outlinese
• Full paragraphs that include a topic and concluding sentence
• Introductory and concluding paragraphs
• Citations (in the style of your choosing) for any and all examples
• Double spaced
• Normal margins
• 12 point font
• Absolutely NO outside research – you should not consult, use, or cite anything other
than the book itself, lecture notes, or the resources I have given to you.
Your paper will be evaluated according to how well your essay meets expectations in five
categories: whether you fulfill the assignment requirements, the quality of your thesis
statement, your use of evidence, the argument and analysis, and your writing.
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