The Thief and the Dogs

Said refers to the people who betrayed him as dogs, and calls himself a tiger or lion several times in the novel. Examine Mahfouz’s use of animal imagery to communicate moral implications, real or imagined.

How do the newspapers' portrayals of Said's crimes feed into his delusions? What does Mahfouz suggest about the role of news media in shaping society and morality? Cite at least three examples from the text.

Ilwan was once a revolutionary writer who inspired Said, yet has abandoned his ideals in favor of wealth and power. Do your own research on the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and examine how Mahfouz portrays the political and ideological goals of the revolution ten years later through the characters of Ilwan and Said.

Said returns to society after years in prison. What does the prison represent? How does it influence Said's character arc through the novel? Cite at least five examples from the text.

Nur is one of the only people in Said's life who still loves him. What does Mahfouz suggest about the role of love and companionship in living a meaningful life? Cite at least three examples from the text.

Said sews himself a military costume when he begins to see himself as a folk hero. What role does national identity play in the lives of Mahfouz’s characters, and their respective systems of meaning? Examine at least two different characters through this lens.

The Thief and the Dogs is considered first use of the stream-of-consciousness writing style in the Arabic language. How does this narrative strategy affect the reader’s perception of Said? What makes this style particularly suited to a story about existentialism? Cite examples from the text, as well as your own research on the stream-of-consciousness style.

Said is killed in the cemetery at the end of the novel. Does Mahfouz portray his death a tragedy or a release? Can it be both? Cite at least three examples from the text.