Midaq Alley - chapters 1 to 6

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 5

Midaq Alley - chapters 1 to 6

What are the defining characteristics of Midaq Alley as introduced in chapter 1?

How does the narrator establish the sense of community among the alley’s inhabitants?

What role does the café play in the lives of the residents?

Identify a moment where personification is used to describe the atmosphere or objects. How does it contribute to the tone of the chapter?

Consider the juxtaposition of modernity and tradition in the alley. What stylistic devices highlight this tension?

How does Mahfouz depict the socioeconomic struggles of the alley’s residents?

Identify metaphors used to describe Hussain’s frustrations. How do they enhance the narrative?

What hints do we get about Hamida’s ambitions and how they might conflict with the alley’s values?

What does this chapter reveal about Abbas’s feelings toward Hamida?

Identify instances of dramatic irony in this chapter. How do they shape the reader’s perception of Abbas’s relationship with Hamida?

How does Mahfouz depict Salim Alwan and his status within the community?

Analyze the symbolism in Salim Alwan’s wealth and physical health. How do they relate to his characterization?

How does Mahfouz use the alley itself as a metaphor for Egypt in transition during the mid-20th century?