Guests of the Sheik by Elizabeth

Warnock Fernea

Map of Iraq in 1958

Timeline of Key Events• 1534 - 1918 - Region is part of the Ottoman Empire.

• 1917 - Britain seizes control, creates state of Iraq.

• 1921 - Faysal, son of Hussein Bin Ali, the Sharif of Mecca, is crowned Iraq's first king. Placed in power by the British

• 1939-1945 - World War II. Britain re-occupies Iraq.

• 1958 - The monarchy is overthrown in a military coup led by Brig Abd-al-Karim Qasim and Col Abd-al-Salam Muhammad Arif. Iraq is declared a republic.

• 1979 - Saddam Hussein becomes president.

• 1990 - Iraq invades Kuwait, starting the Gulf War with the USA

• 1991 - Iraq subjected to sanctions, weapons inspections and no-fly zones.

• 2003 - US-led coalition invades, starting years of guerrilla warfare and instability.

Map of Iraq today

“Diwaniya, Diwaniya”

Arabic terms:

• Abayah________ A. basic long garment

• Dishdasha_______ B. Tribal Headscarf

• Kaffiyeh_________ C. God Willing

• Ahlan Wusahlan_______ D. Women’s long Cloak

• Enshallah_________ E. Peace be unto you

• Salaam Alaykum________ F. Welcome

Dishdasha

Abayah

Kaffiyeh

Culture Shock for Beeja

• Culture shock: the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. Make a list…

More Arabic Terms:

• Mudhif

• Harem

• Suq

• Kohl

• Foota

• Tiji daayman

• Allah wiyach

• Purdah (Technically Persian)

Harem

Suq

Kohl

Foota

Tiji daayman

Purdah

Purdah

Allah wiyach

Harem and “Orientalism”

• Orientalism: Orientalism” is a way of seeing that imagines, emphasizes, exaggerates and distorts differences of Arab peoples and cultures as compared to that of Europe and the U.S. It often involves seeing Arab culture as exotic, backward, uncivilized, and at times dangerous. Edward W. Said, in his groundbreaking book, Orientalism, defined it as the acceptance in the West of “the basic distinction between East and West as the starting point for elaborate theories, epics, novels, social descriptions, and political accounts concerning the Orient, its people, customs, ‘mind,’ destiny and so on.”

• http://www.arabstereotypes.org/why-stereotypes/what-orientalism

Orientalism

Who is…?

• Haji Hamid? (Why is he called “Haji?”)

• Selma

• Kulthum

• Bahiga

What are…?

• Three Examples of Customs or Traditions?

More Culture Shock?

• What are three examples of culture shock for Beeja from Chapter 2?

In your squads…• Based on the information in the “Cast of

Characters” and the first two chapters… Make a Kinship Diagram of Three Generations of Sheik Haji Hamid’s Family but only count the sons and daughters of Haji Hamid (include his siblings but not their kids). Make Haji’s Dad the Apical Ancestor

Kinship Diagrams

Answers