The Norwegian Rat

By Naguib Mahfouz

The Norway/ Brown Rat• Brown rat/common rat• Present on every continent

except Antartica. Most prominent rat in Europe and America.

• Mistakenly considered the cause of bubonic plague (Black Death). The black rat was responsible. The displacement of black rats by brown may have caused a decrease in bubonic plague.

Vocabulary• affliction- state of pain, distress or grief p. 1• maxim- expression of a general truth or principle p.1• meticulously-showing extreme care in all details p. 1• eminent- high in station, rank or prominence p. 2• calamity- great misfortune/disaster p. 2• proliferation- a rapid/excessive spread or increase p. 2• imminent-likely to occur at any moment p. 2• laudable- deserving praise p. 2• morass- a tract of low, soft, wet ground p. 3• pallid- pale, faint in color p. 4• stupefaction- state of being overwhelmed/amazed p. 4• voracity- devouring/ craving in great quantities. p.4

Inspector

History

• Mahfouz had witnessed the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 (Britain and Egypt)

• Also July 23, 1952 began the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 by the “Free Officers.” They were against the Egyptian monarchy (King Faurouk) who was backed by the British government.

What are we really talking about?

• Symbols?

• Irony?

• Allegory?