logo

41 pages 1 hour read

Hanan al-Shaykh

The Story of Zahra

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

The novel never names the African country in which Zahra, Hashem, and Majed live. How does this choice reflect the characters’ relationship to their adoptive homeland?

2.

Examine the ending of The Story of Zahra. How does the novel’s ending tie into larger themes of violence? Hopelessness? Powerlessness?

3.

How does abandonment function throughout the narrative? What might it say about Lebanon’s leaders during the Civil War?

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 41 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools