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Spring 2005: English 381: Literatures of Asia            (TT 9:00-10:15 Baker 454)

Dr.Thomas Palakeel  tjp@bradley.edu or tpalakeel@yahoo.com  BH 395 Phone: 677-2477.           Office: TT 12:00-1:00; W 9:00-11:00 and by appointment. This is a BLACKBOARD class.

Course Description: This Gen Ed Non-Western Civ course in the Literatures of Asia will focus on the intellectual and aesthetic aspects of key literary works in different Asian languages available in English translation. This semester most of our readings have been chosen from the three major literary traditions of Asia: Chinese, Indian, and the Japanese. A few postcolonial works in English are also included, as additional readings, along with recent works from traditions flourishing within geopolitical entities shaped by the three major cultures.

Course Objectives: The readings and discussions in the class are meant for developing your personal understanding of non-Western literary traditions. More specifically, this course will explore non-Western notions of genres, aesthetics, literary conventions, and literary periods through a close study of major texts in translation. We will also study the impact of literature on culture and history through observing the relationships between various non-Western literatures to their Western counterparts in the context of colonialism, capitalism, and modernity.

Textbooks:
Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Expanded Edition in One Volume;
The Mahabharata, Retold by William Buck.
Haiku edited by Faubion Bowers.
Information on the required movies and several additional readings posted on Blackboard. I will make a printer-friendly web page excerpts for your convenience.

ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS:

1. Reading log, 150 word summary and reflection for each class day; checked two times during the semester (15 points). One full letter grade deducted from the final grade if you fail to turn in a satisfactory reading log. (Summarize or journal on the readings; do additional readings or research to augment your readings. Develop questions for discussion. I expect only one handwritten page for each class.)
2. Come to class regularly. Beyond the first 2 absences, I will reserve the right to deduct as much as 3 points per absence. Some exceptions are made if you have valid reasons, with documentation of illness, participation in university sponsored events.
3. Three exams: Mid term: #1 (25 points); #2 (25 points, take-home); Final (50 points).
4. Short in-class writings, quizzes, short responses on movies and other events that might come our way: (60 points); One term paper (25 points.)
5. Grading scale: A=90%^ B=80%^ C=70%^ D=^60%^ F=59%>.
6. Follow the schedule for your textual readings. Some of these texts you might find difficult, so start with the introductions that precede each section. We might drop or add a few readings. I will post this syllabus on the web and I promise to add some notes and comments as well as links to photos and other materials. Check the web version of the syllabus from Blackboard.
 

1/20  TH Introduction:The Epic of Gilgamesh, (Norton Anthology)
1/25 T The Epic of Gilgamesh, pp. 10-31 (Norton). McAuley’s minutes on Blackboard, (BB).
1/27 TH The Epic of Gilgamesh, pp.31-42 (Norton).

2/1 T Mahabharata, Ch: 1-3.
2/3 TH Mahabharata, Ch: 4-7
2/8 T Mahabharata,pp. 8-14 and The Bhagavat Gita, (Norton, pp.612-23), a part “The Mahabharata” (Chapter 12) which also exists independently as a philosophy, gospel, etc.
2/10 TH The Mahabharata, 15-20. Also read Dhammapada and Katha Upanishad on BB.

2/15 T Early Chinese poetry, pp.534-44 (Norton). First Midterm, open book. (25 points.)
2/17 TH Confucius. 545-555 and Chuang Chou, pp.555-57 (Norton). Blackboard materials.
2/22 T Chinese Middle Period poets, Tao Chien, Li Po, Tu Fu, pp,818-38 (Norton)
2/24 TH Yuan Chen and others, (Norton, pp.839-58); also BB materials.

3/1 T  Sakuntala, a play--by Kalidasa, pp.750-90;
3/3 TH Sakuntala, pp. 790-811 (Norton)

3/8 T Golden Age of Japanese culture: Manyoshu poems, pp.1280-92
Selections from The Tale of Genji--Lady Murasaki, pp.1344 (Norton)
3/10 TH The Tale of Genji--Lady Murasaki, pp.1344-1383.... 3/14-18 Spring recess

3/22 T Medieval Indian poets. Pp. 1419-29. Second Midterm due: (25 points; take home).

3/24 TH  Basho, Narrow Road of the Interior, pp.2108-34 (Norton.)
3/29 T  Haiku, pp.1-78 (in the Dover book.)
3/31 TH Dojoji, pp.1400-09 (Norton);
4/5 T Atsumori and Haku Rakuten and other materials on BB. Start reading Cao Xuequin’s Story of Stone, pp.1768.

4/7 TH Chinese Novel: Read Cao Xuequin’s Story of Stone, pp.1768-1821
4/12 T Read Cao Xuequin’s, Story of Stone, 1821-87
4/14 TH Read Rabindranath Tagore, pp.2621-27 and (Norton.) Movie.
4/19 T Chinese Stories, Lu Xun, pp.2726-35 (Norton). Movie.
4/21 TH Japanese Stories, p.2896. I am working on a movie assignment.

4/26 T Contemporary Asian poetry. Poems on BB.
4/28 TH Brief oral presentations of your term paper, which is also due on this date.
5/3 T Presentations and concluding remarks.

Final (partly open book) Examination: May 9, at 12:00-2:00 PM.
 

Contemporary Short Fiction:
1.Lajwanti by Rajinder Singh Bedi (India)
2.Lu Xun A Madman's Diary and A Small Incident (China)

3.Contemporary Poetry:
from various Asian languages
4.Rabindranath Tagore: Once There Was a King (India)

Noh Plays: Atsumori and Haku Rakuten
Dhammapada excerpts for class
Katha Upanishad
5.Kawabata's The Pomegranate

Asian films for discussion:
Devi
(The Goddess, Bengali, India) Directed by Satyajit Ray. Conflict between ancient Hindu heritage and modernity
To Live (China) Directed by ZHANG YIMOU
The decadence and the decline of feudal China; the revolution
Spices: (Hindi, India) Directed by Ketan Mehta, go to a review Colonial India, a woman's struggle for dignity
Woman in the Dunes (Japan) Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara; review A haunting post-nuclear allegory of being trapped in a sand pit
Kagemusha(Japan) Directed by Akira Kurosowa The end of the medieval Japan, the coming of the West

Farewell, My Concubine (1993) Chen Kaige
The coming of Chinese revolution; cultural revolution
The Chess Players (Hindi, India) by Satyajit Ray. The end of the Mughals; the coming of the English more on South Asian feminist film-makers

More Asian Films list for future reference
Asian Novels Review: previous semesters