The incorporation of war into English speaking literature has a long tradition since wars as such form ideal literacy backgrounds for plot, character development or political criticism. In times of civil uproar, political insecurity, outer enemies or ongoing wars this use of war as a literary means has always increased. This is recently perhaps best shown by the events of 9/11. They have not only taken American literature out from its long involvement in local matters such as family, village or town but pushed it into new directions which formed completely new types of novels such as the 9/11 novel, the post-9/11 novel or Ground Zero Fiction where war gained a new dimension which was so different from war literature of the First World War, the Second World War or the Vietnam War.
In most cases this literary coverage of 9/11 has mostly remained in American families or matters of 'home' and it lacked an appropriate coverage of the Muslim side and it is here where the novel analyzed here steps in.
Omar EI Akkad's novel American War (2017) exactly fits in this background not only because it is written by an author originating from a Muslim background it also brings the topic war back to America to discuss it here. This is new and radical in the sense that readers suddenly are confronted with problems such as war, terrorism, suicide bombers or chemical warfare which so far have been placed on foreign battlegrounds.
It is now the USA which is used to discuss matters which were formerly used under American Presidents with slogans such as 'Crusade' or 'Holy War'.
Omar El Akkad thus combines two main trends of Muslim writing which are characterized by bringing the narration into the West or by taking it back into the former colonies. By choosing a civil war as the background for his novel El Akkad mixes both trends while importing terror back to the USA which is to blame for it.
American War is a novel which contains several elements thus being an important representative of contemporary English speaking literature.
Table of Contents
- I. Abstract
- II. Introduction
- III. American and English War Literature - a short Introduction
- IV. The Influence of the 9/11 Novel on Muslim Writing
- V. Literary Background of American War
- 1. The American South
- 2. The Orphan in Literature
- 3. The Presentation of War and Children
- VI. American War - Close Analysis
- VII. Sarat hero or anti-hero?
- VIII. Conclusion
- IX. Outlook
- X. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This analysis of Omar El Akkad's American War (2017) investigates the novel's contribution to contemporary English-speaking war literature, particularly within the context of the post-9/11 literary landscape. The study aims to explore the novel's unique perspective on war and its impact on individuals, specifically children, within a dystopian American setting. Furthermore, it examines the novel's literary antecedents, exploring connections to the American South, the orphan motif in literature, and the portrayal of war's influence on children.
- The influence of the 9/11 novel on Muslim writing and the portrayal of war's impact on America.
- The novel's literary background, specifically its connections to the American South and the orphan motif in literature.
- The presentation of war and children, exploring how the novel depicts their experiences and perspectives.
- The role of the protagonist, Sarat, as a potential hero or anti-hero within the narrative.
- The novel's dystopian setting and its exploration of themes like environmental pollution and biological warfare.
Chapter Summaries
The abstract introduces the concept of war as a recurring theme in English-speaking literature, highlighting its relevance to plot development, character portrayal, and political commentary. It emphasizes the surge in war-themed literature following the events of 9/11, which shifted American literary focus from domestic concerns to international conflicts. The abstract also introduces Omar El Akkad's American War as a significant addition to this literary landscape, particularly because of its exploration of war from a Muslim perspective and its recontextualization of war's impact within the United States.
The introduction provides further context for the analysis, positioning American War as a contemporary representative of English-speaking literature. It highlights the novel's elements of speculative fiction, its dystopian setting, and its exploration of themes like environmental pollution and biological warfare. The introduction also draws parallels between American War and Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake (2003), noting similarities in style and political message.
Chapter III examines the development of war literature in the English-speaking world, focusing on the historical context and key influences. It explores the evolution of war narratives from traditional settings to the post-9/11 landscape, highlighting the emergence of new genres such as the "9/11 novel" and "Ground Zero Fiction." This chapter provides a framework for understanding the novel's place within the broader history of war literature.
Chapter IV delves into the specific influence of the 9/11 novel on Muslim writing. It discusses the ways in which Muslim writers have engaged with the themes of war, terrorism, and political instability in their work, often exploring these themes from a perspective that challenges Western narratives. This chapter sets the stage for understanding the unique perspective offered by American War.
Chapter V explores the literary background of American War, analyzing its connections to existing literary traditions. It examines the novel's engagement with the American South, exploring how it draws on historical and cultural elements of the region. Additionally, the chapter analyzes the significance of the orphan motif in literature, demonstrating how American War utilizes this trope to further explore the theme of war's impact on children.
Chapter VI provides a detailed analysis of American War, examining the novel's narrative structure, character development, and thematic content. This chapter delves into the novel's exploration of war's effects on individuals and societies, highlighting the perspectives of children within a dystopian American setting. The analysis aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the novel's central themes and its contribution to contemporary literature.
Keywords
The novel American War by Omar El Akkad offers a powerful exploration of the impact of war on individuals and societies. Key themes and concepts explored include: war literature, post-9/11 fiction, Muslim writing, American South, dystopian fiction, environmental pollution, biological warfare, children in war, and the orphan motif.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Autor), 2018, Omar El Akkad's "American War". A Child's Perspective on War, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/414395
