Surname 1

Assignment 2

ENG 208

Literature Project presentations

The translator by Leila Aboulela

As early highlighted by my fellow colleagues, the novel follows the story of a Sudanese

woman named Sammar. She used to work as a translator for an Arabic professor at a Scottish

university. The novel exhibits several key themes, such as cultural identity, religion, love, and

displacement.

For instance, the most overt aspect of the novel is the way the author portrays the main

character Sammar's struggle as a way to reconcile her Sudanese heritage with her life in

Scotland. The main character is torn between being loyal to her culture and her desire to be

absorbed into Scottish society. This tension is well depicted in the following excerpt:

"I thought of my mother's face when she first saw me with my uncovered hair, and then I

thought of what I must look like now, with my western clothes and lipstick." She would

disapprove of me, but it was a small price to pay for the freedom to live my life as I pleased.

Sammar is experiencing emotional conflicts because she is from a different society. As

much as she wants to be true to her culture and traditions in regards to her Sudanese society, she

feels the urge to adapt the Scottish culture. Most of the immigrants in the world are facing

challenges where they are caught between two worlds.

 Surname 2

We also have the theme of love and relationships in this book. Sammar falls in love with

her boss, Rae Isles, who is a professor at a Scottish university. Sammar states that "I saw his hair

first, then the corner of his forehead, then his eyebrows. He was watching me, and his eyes were

so clear and direct that I felt as though I was seeing him for the first time. There was something

about his expression—a kind of wonder—that was deeply moving." It clearly shows Sammar’s

love for the professor. There is also a lot of imagery in this book, which makes it compelling to

read. Furthermore, the author explores various aspects of love in a way that is both lyrical and

moving. The characters are beautifully drawn and make the book a thought-provoking novel.

Class activity

In this class activity, we will discuss the book, "The Translator."

The primary objective is to discuss the translator, Leila Aboulela, and allow the students to

share their minds, their insights, and their opinions about the different themes.

Materials to use;

1. Copies of the book The Translator by Aboulela

2. white board and markers

 
 Surname 3

Instructions

1. Divide the students into groups of 5–6 students.

2. Each group should have at least two copies of the book.

3. The students should read the book and discuss it to understand it clearly.

4. Prepare at least four questions per group that will be shared with other groups.

5. Give the class groups 45 minutes to discuss the question.

6. Bring the groups together to discuss various overall questions.

The questions to be discussed are:

1. What is the main theme of the novel, and how does the author explore the theme?

2. What is the significance of the relationship between Sammar and Professor Rae?

3. What does the novel teach about human relationships, love, and culture?

4. What are the main points one can take from this novel?

Assessment:

Assess the activity of the groups based on their participation in discussions. The teacher will

provide guidance to the students on how to tackle the complex questions.

 Surname 4

Work Cited

Hassan, Waïl S. "Leila Aboulela and the ideology of Muslim immigrant fiction." Novel: A

Forum on Fiction. Vol. 41. No. 2/3. Duke University Press, 2008.