Adab (Arabic Literature)
Read the poets and prose masters of Arabic in their own words. Our literature courses pair close reading with grammar, rhetoric and vocabulary.
Featured courses
How we teach literature
Each text is read line by line. We parse the difficult lines, explain the rhetoric, and note the vocabulary worth keeping. You read the text itself, not a summary of it.
You will
- Read classical poetry and prose with understanding
- Learn the history of Arabic literature, from the Jāhiliyyah to the modern age
- Apply Naḥw, Ṣarf and Balāghah to real texts
- Build a lasting literary vocabulary
Where to begin
Start with Introduction to Arabic Literature. It surveys every major period and prepares you for the longer texts.
Free resources
Key works on the history of Arabic literature are free to download on our Adab Resources page.
Read the classics yourself
Choose a text above, or contact us for advice on where to start.