English

Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

LESSON 22.1
West Asia and Its Literature
Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Objectives 2

DepEd Competency 2

Warm-Up 2

Learn about It 3

Key Points 5

Check Your Understanding 6

Let’s Step Up! 7

Bibliography 8
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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

Lesson 22.1
West Asia and Its Literature

Fig. 1. Literature can be influenced by where it is written.

Introduction
Literature can be influenced by the historical turn of events: the geographical location, the
economic life, and the evolving culture of a nation. Some kinds of literature can also be
shaped by people’s philosophical beliefs, spirituality, or religion. In this lesson, you will know
more about West Asian literature and how its philosophy became one of its important
contributors.

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Use prior knowledge of West Asian culture to better understand
representative texts from the region.
● Show understanding of West Asian literature.
● Identify literary pieces contributed by West Asian writers.
● Connect important points from the literature read to the philosophical
and religious ideas of the region.

DepEd Competency
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to identify distinguishing features
found in religious texts, epics, myths, dramas, and short stories contributed by
South and West Asian writers (EN8LT-IVc-13.1).

Warm-Up

Think-Pair-Share
Procedure
1. With a classmate, discuss your opinion about the quotes below:
a. “Time is gold.”
b. “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”
c. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

Learn about It
West Asian literature is largely dominated by Arabic, Jewish, Persian, and Turkish poetry
and prose. Among the oldest and greatest classical literary pieces were produced in West
Asia, specifically in Persia (now Iran) and in the Arabian peninsula. It is widely known for its
religious and philosophical texts like the Qu’ran, a very crucial text in Islamic literature and
religion, and the Holy Bible, which is also the basis of the Catholic faith. Over the years, West
Asian writers have also influenced writers from other nations, including the Western
countries. Today, more West Asian writers are making names in the world literary
scene--maintaining the prestige of West Asian literature all over the world.

Vocabulary
attribute regard something as being caused by (someone or
(noun) something)

void
vacant; empty
(adjective)

inevitable
certain to happen
(adjective)

Essential Question
How is literature shaped by culture, history and environment?

One of the unique literary forms that West Asian literature contributed to world literature is
the Persian poetic form called ruba’i.

Ruba’i, or quatrain in Persian, is a lyric poem with a stanza that consists of four lines of 13
syllables, with a number of possible rhyme schemes (e.g. AABA, AAAA, etc.).

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

The rhythm within each line is rather free, but the usual meter of a Persian ruba’i is – – u u –
u – u – – u u –, where “-” represents a long syllable, and "u" a short one. Another pattern
involves an occasional sequence of two short syllables (u u) that can be replaced by a single
long one (–). A third variety is to use the same first meter, but with the eighth and ninth
syllables reversed like – – u u – – u u – – u u –. This poetic form is more non-traditional
compared to other forms of Arabic and Persian poetry. Arabian and Persian poetry often
use a single rhythm throughout the poem despite its length.

One perfect example of this poetic form is Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat (plural of ruba’i)
written in the 9th or 10th century. He is an astronomer/astrologer, mathematician, and
philosopher. It contains reflections on the meaning of life which always ends with the firm
conclusion that people should eat, drink and be merry while they are still alive.

In twelfth-century Persia, where strict Islamic laws were implemented, Khayyam’s ideas
were considered highly dangerous, especially if such a belief and lifestyle became known to
the authorities. Thus, the Rubaiyat were circulated secretly by word of mouth and not
through written means. Nobody knew who wrote it until Omar Khayyam’s death when
some poems were attributed to him.

One example is a rubai by Omar Khayyam below:

Khayyam, if you are intoxicated with wine, enjoy!

If you are seated with a lover of thine, enjoy!
In the end, the Void the whole world employ
Imagine thou art not, while waiting in line, enjoy!

In this rubai, notice that the last word of all four lines (quatrain) rhymes with each other
(AAAA). However, the number of syllables is not 13 and is not consistent throughout the
stanza due to its translation to English. The first line has a pattern of - u - u - - u - u - - u - u
while the second one has - u - - u - - - u - u - u, thus, showing the free rhythm present in
rubai.

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

In terms of message, notice how the first line encourages one to enjoy the time of their life
with excessive drinking and with a lover because, at the end of their life, everyone will be in
the Void. Thus, the persona reiterates that while one waits for their inevitable turn to die,
they should enjoy their life.

Let’s Check In
Read the excerpt below from Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam and answer the
questions that follow:

Heaven is incomplete without a heavenly romance

Let a glass of wine be my present circumstance
Take what is here now, let go of a promised chance
A drumbeat is best heard from a distance.

Discussion Question:
1. Why did the persona advise the reader to “let go of a promised chance”?
Do you agree with him/her? Why/Why not?
2. Why do you think the persona says that “A drumbeat is best heard from
a distance”?
3. What does the persona in the poem advise its readers on how to regard
time?

Key Points

● West Asian literature is largely dominated by Arabic, Jewish, Persian, and Turkish
poetry and prose.
● One of the unique literary forms that West Asian literature contributed to world
literature is the Persian poetic form called ruba’i.

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

Check Your Understanding

Fill in the blanks with the word/s that would complete the information on West
Asian literature.

1. West Asian literature is known for its religious or ________________ texts that became
the basis of many religions like Islam and Christianity.
2. A rubai has 4 lines and _______ syllables.
3. Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat contains reflections on the ________________.
4. Because Khayyam’s themes in Rubaiyat were considered dangerous during his time,
his poems were secretly spread by ________________.
5. In Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, the persona always encourages the readers to ______________
their life because there might not be tomorrow.

Write true if the interpretation of the excerpt below is correct and false if
otherwise.

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,

Before we too into the Dust Descend;

Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie,

Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer and—sans End!

__________ 1. The author believes in the afterlife.

__________ 2. The author wants to enjoy life today as it is.

__________ 3. The last line refers to a religious ritual of singing songs.

__________ 4. Dust refers to death.

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

__________ 5. The point of the excerpt is to spend money while we have it.

Interpret the following excerpt from Rubaiyat in two to three sentences.

Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!

That Youth's sweet-scented Manuscript should close!

The Nightingale that in the Branches sang,

Ah, whence, and whither flown again, who knows!.

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Let’s Step Up!

Read a ruba’i written by Omar Khayyam and discuss with a partner the value/s it
promotes. Share whether you agree with how Omar Khayyam looks at life, love,
death, or any of his subjects in his poem. Write your analysis on a whole sheet of
paper.

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Grade 8 • Unit 22: West Asian Literature

Bibliography
Khayyam, Omar. (2008). “Rubaiyat”. Trans. Edward Fitzgerald. Project Gutenberg. Accessed
October 3, 2017. http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/246/pg246.txt

Newman, Bob. (2005). “Rubai”. Accessed October 3,

2017.http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/rubai.htm.