25 pages 50 minutes read

Naguib Mahfouz

Half a Day

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1991

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.

Paired Texts Resource

How to use

Teaching materials for this text pairing include pre- and post-reading prompts, short answer questions, activities, and essay topics that can be used before or after students’ independent or group reading of the texts. The materials are designed to heighten engagement with each text while deepening understanding of common themes. Use the writing options in lessons to create opportunities for finding evidence and support in the texts, employing critical thinking skills, and practicing test-taking skills. 

These materials can be utilized as a basis for lesson planning and unit design, class discussion, Entrance and Exit “tickets,” small group seminars, and writing activity ideas. Fulfill requirements for IEP/GIEP learners, early finishers, independent study, varied learning styles, and more.

Texts to read, in recommended order:

  1. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson (poem)
  2. "Half a Day” by Naguib Mahfouz (short story)

Thought & Response Prompts

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the paired texts.

Pre-reading Prompt:

1. Think about a time in your life (spanning anywhere from minutes to months) when time itself seemed to pass either very slowly or very quickly. What were you doing? What was going on around you? Why might you have felt that way about time’s passage? How does your experience relate to the discussion in

blurred text

blurred text

Related Titles

By Naguib Mahfouz

Plot Summary

logo

Arabian Nights and Days

Naguib Mahfouz

Arabian Nights and Days

Naguib Mahfouz

Plot Summary

logo

Children of Gebelawi

Naguib Mahfouz

Children of Gebelawi

Naguib Mahfouz

Study Guide

logo

Midaq Alley

Naguib Mahfouz

Midaq Alley

Naguib Mahfouz

Study Guide

logo

Palace Walk

Naguib Mahfouz

Palace Walk

Naguib Mahfouz

Study Guide

logo

Zaabalawi

Naguib Mahfouz

Zaabalawi

Naguib Mahfouz