Understanding the Background of Meeting at an Airport by...

It is possible to understand certain pieces of literature outside its historical context; however, it is more beneficial if the reader has background knowledge. Taha Muhammad Ali was a Palestinian poet that was born in 1931. He grew up in Saffuriya, Galilee which is located in the Middle East. Ali was self-taught through his readings of classical Arabic literature, American fiction, and English poetry. Ali then began to write poems in the 1970s. He wrote a poem entitled â€Å"Meeting at an Airport† which is based on his personal experiences. Without knowing his background information and history, it is unclear about what exactly is meant by this poem. This piece of literature elicits the sense of reconnection and the exact same feelings for each other just like the first time they met. In the poem, â€Å"Meeting at an Airport† written by Taha Muhammad Ali, historical context is needed to understand this piece because it emphasizes the theme, the purpose of the poem, an d establishes credibility (â€Å"Poetry Foundation†). When a reader grasps a theme throughout any piece of literature, he or she never clearly understands the intent without knowing where the theme came from. The theme that is portrayed in the poem is, often times reconnecting with a loved one cannot only bring happiness, but it can also bring sorrow. This theme was emphasized throughout the poem and without knowing the historical context of the poem, one could not necessarily understand where it came from. In the text it