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Persepolis and Literature in Translation

More than an "English person," I have always been a language person. I love how we use words and how language evolves over time, and for most of my life, my primary way of indulging in this love has been through reading. I went to college for French and Arabic just to experience even more language. Because of my experiences reading works in other languages, I am a huge believer in reading works in translation.

Using translated works in the classroom allows students to learn about diverse viewpoints and broaden their concepts of literary canon. Translated works can also provide perspectives completely absent from English sources. For instance, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi provides a first-person account of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Most of my students only know about Iran from recent news stories, so this graphic novel gives them historical context for current events and US-Iran relations.

I encourage all self-professed lovers of literature to expand their horizons to works in translation. Even if you read diversely, there is a whole world of new voices just waiting for you to listen.
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