English Fiction in Pakistan. Focus on Qaisra Shahraz

Textbook , 2015 , 43 Pages

Literature - General

Pakistani Literature in English like other worldly literatures is gaining worldly fame and in this respect Pakistani writers particularly in English from time to time have shown their enthusiasm and loyal spirit to highlight the socio-economic, political, cultural problems of Pakistan in which it has lingered so far. Pakistan, being a Multi-ethnic country, has a diverse geography and culture and the people their belief in the feudal system, hierarchical power distribution, which historically is the product of the imperialistic country. This class has always shown resistance towards the changes in the society. Pakistan has given a privileged position to the army, bureaucrats and the feudal lords. There has been conflict between the conservative and liberal set of people within the society of Pakistan as reflected by the conflicts and opposite thinking, taught in madrasa and westernized elite schools respectively. These two institutions carry two different and diametrically opposed worldview. Madrasas teaches its students the traditional, conventional sets of ideologies and Islamic ways of life, whereas the modern school teaches the ways of life based on modern setups.
The laws of tradition and modernity vary from place to place and even the Pakistani tradition in Pakistani aristocratic families has become a myth. So this book English Fiction in Pakistan with a focus of Qaisra Shahraz will try to make an effort to highlight the different modes of tradition vs modernity and how Shahraz has dealt with, and how society of Pakistan is being reflected in her works. Shahraz has so far written three novels – The Holy woman (Fated to Love) (2001) Typhoon
(Love’s Fury) (2003) and Revolt (2013). She is working on her fourth novel The Henna Painter. Qaisra Shahraz as a diasporic author and a multilingual intellectual, who represents the new age Muslim woman, shares her experiences of living as a Muslim woman with multiple identities in Britain. She has written three novels and several short stories, that later were compiled in a single book named A Pair of Jeans. Moreover, a critical analysis of her work features in a book entitled The Holy the Unholy Critical Essays on Qaisra Shahraz’s Fiction (2011). She throughout her writings in one or the other way has raised the problems of some social evils and problems of women that reflect in both westerns part of world as well as in the society of present Pakistan.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: The Rise of English Fiction in Pakistan
• The Influence of British Colonialism
• The Emergence of Prose Fiction
• Early Pakistani English Writers
• Chapter 2: Qaisra Shahraz: A Diasporic Author
• Shahraz's Life and Background
• Her Multilingualism and Cultural Identity
• Her Work as a Novelist, Screenwriter, and Educator
• Chapter 3: The Holy Woman (Fated to Love)
• Themes of Tradition and Modernity
• Women's Roles and Status in Pakistani Society
• The Impact of Western Feminism
• Chapter 4: Typhoon (Love's Fury)
• Exploring the Dynamics of Love and Relationships
• The Role of Family and Social Expectations
• The Power of Individual Choice and Rebellion
• Chapter 5: Revolt
• The Struggle for Empowerment and Liberation
• Challenging Societal Norms and Expectations
• The Importance of Education and Self-Discovery

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This book aims to analyze the rise of English fiction in Pakistan, focusing specifically on the works of Qaisra Shahraz. It examines how Shahraz's novels reflect the complex interplay of tradition and modernity in Pakistani society, highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by women in particular.

• The evolution of English literature in Pakistan
• The role of tradition and modernity in Pakistani society
• The portrayal of women's roles and experiences
• The exploration of diasporic identity and cultural complexities
• The impact of Western influences on Pakistani culture

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1 traces the development of English fiction in Pakistan, highlighting the influences of British colonialism and the emergence of prose fiction as a prominent literary form. It also introduces some of the early Pakistani English writers who helped shape the literary landscape. Chapter 2 provides a detailed biography of Qaisra Shahraz, exploring her diasporic identity, multilingualism, and her diverse career as a novelist, screenwriter, and educator. Chapter 3 analyzes Shahraz's first novel, The Holy Woman (Fated to Love), examining its themes of tradition and modernity, women's roles in Pakistani society, and the impact of Western feminist ideas. Chapter 4 delves into Shahraz's second novel, Typhoon (Love's Fury), exploring the complex dynamics of love and relationships, the influence of family and social expectations, and the power of individual choice and rebellion. Chapter 5 examines Shahraz's third novel, Revolt, focusing on the struggle for empowerment and liberation, the challenges to societal norms and expectations, and the importance of education and self-discovery.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This book focuses on key themes such as English fiction in Pakistan, Qaisra Shahraz, tradition and modernity, women's roles, diasporic identity, cultural complexities, Western influences, social expectations, empowerment, and liberation. It explores these themes through the lens of Shahraz's novels, providing valuable insights into the contemporary Pakistani literary landscape and the experiences of Pakistani women in a globalized world.

• Course: English Literature
• Author: Huda Majeed (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 43
• Catalog Number: V299262
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656957492
• ISBN (Book): 9783656957508
• Language: English
• Tags: english, fiction, pakistan, focus, qaisra, shahraz