The Queen of Sheba in contemporary Arabic and English literary writings by women

Abstract EN

The paper studies the parable of the Queen of Sheba and her image in Arabic and English cultures as a motif in contemporary writings by women.

The paper takes the sacred scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions as a springboard towards tracing the parable to the cultures to which the women-poets relate.

The texts selected here show a diversity of themes; but, the resurrection of Sheba in women‘s writing has other aims, manifestations and connotations that can be both self-empowering mechanism and identity boosting process.

For the women writers, the Queen of Sheba is a source of inspiration and a force to reclaim their vital and vigorous role in making history, and in crystallizing the spiritual and religious traditions.

Sheba‘s role in the famous story of faith behoove them to compare her with her man and to highlight her character.