Arab-American Literature: Identity and Expression

Abstract The genres of Arabic literature, especially the Arab-American literature owe its origin to America. However, when Arabic literature began to develop in the North and South America in late 19th century, unlike in America, the utilitarian and aesthetic functions of a literary work were seen as mutually complimentary. This new efforts of Arabic literature is called as “Arab-American Literature”. This is an ethnic American literature, comprising literary works by writers and poets with Arab origins residing in the United States. The Arab diaspora has its beginnings in the overdue nineteenth century, when Arab groups from the Ottoman Empire moved to North and South America. The study, consequently spots light on the important efforts of Arab- American writers and poets to create new literary works within the Arabic literature. Arab- American writers, poets and Artists have turn out to be prominent figures within the subject of Arab- American literature and substantially indebted to this literature. The woman writers also awesome contribution in Arab American literature. The maximum efficient and innovative voice within the Arab-American literature mainly, the writings of the post-eighties which may be certainly coloured with a female flavor. In this seminar paper efforts have been made to study the development of Arab-American literature and to discuss briefly the immigration of Arab-American writers and poets. Finally, the paper goals at to explore the contribution of Arab-American writers, poets and artists in the Arab- American literature especially Gibran Khalil Gibran, Iliya Abu Madhi, Ameen Raihani, Mikhail Nu’aima, Ni’matullah Alhaj, Nasib ‘Aridha, Rashid Ayub, ‘Abd Al-Masih Haddad, Nadrah Haddad, Mishal Ma’luf, Ilyas Farhath, Shafiq Al-Ma’luf, Tawfiq Qurban, Shukrallahi Al-Gar, ‘Aql Al-Gar and female writers Layla Elalami, Mohja Kahf, Diana Abujaber, Randa Jarrar, Etel Adnan.