Parchment Student Profile

As students and learners we are constantly exposed to a world full of surprises, challenges and obstacles. Some of these are evident in the literature we study and the researches we do. As an IB student, it is required that I write a 3000-4000 words extended essay for my diploma. My extended essay was probably the most astonishing, overwhelming experience I had to go through during my years of study. It does not only require a well rounded, proficient student but also an individual capable of functioning under excruciating pressure. I chose to write my essay in Arabic and therefore chose an Arabic novel for the Egyptian writer Najeeb Mahfooth. The novel I selected was one of the first Arabic novels and the first to be published for Mahfooth. This made my task and research even harder, since resources about the novel were scarce and lacked the appropriate information or evidence needed in my research. Moreover, the novel itself proved to be somewhat simpler and less sophisticated than my research question required. I took on the question of how the author tackled his society’s problems and portrayed the reality of its suffering under a time of war and occupation through the use of legendary characters in his novel. At first I was frustrated and unsatisfied with the resources and literary work that I chose, but as I continued to research and became more determined to achieve my goal of answering my question, I became more tolerant and analytical with what I read. Soon enough, I realized that the novel was more than just simple and had various hidden messages that are only seen with patience and absolute concentration. I began to see the bigger picture of the novel, and by the end of my journey I was able to gain new skills, achieve my goal, and present a sophisticated essay.