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Course Description:

This course is an introduction to pre-modern vernacular Chinese literature. We will cover the major genres and texts of this tradition and approach them from different perspectives. In particular, we will pay close attention to narrative structure, rhetoric, narrative themes, and issues such as gender relations, moral values and conflicts, societal and individual ideals and aspirations, etc.

No previous knowledge of Chinese literature or culture is required. All texts are provided in English translations.


Instructor:

Prof. Dietrich Tschanz
Office: Scott Hall 337
Phone: (732) 932-5596
Email: dtschanz@rci.rutgers.edu
Office hours: Monday 11:15 am to 12 noon, and by arrangement


Frequency and Place of Meetings:

The class meets twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, during 2nd period in Campbell Hall A-1 (CAC).


Class Website

I have established a simple class web site which is available at:

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~dtschanz/242/


Requirements

Regular class attendance and participation; brief homework assignments; four papers of 5 pages each; midterm and final.

Regular class attendance and participation (including leadership in group work) are important requirements for this course. They can make a significant difference in your grade.

Assignments are due on the date noted in the schedule.


Mid-Term:

The mid-term examination will consist of two parts: in the first part, I will test you on your knowledge of the texts, concepts, and terms introduced in class; in the second part, I will ask you to write two short essays on the content, form, meaning, or other aspects of the material we covered in class.


Final:

The final will follow the format of the mid-term. Although it will be not cumulative, there will be certain questions for which you will have to relate the later material to the earlier one.


Grading:

Class attendance and participation: 10%
Homework: 10%
Papers: 30%
Mid-term: 25%
Final 25%


Required Books:

Ch'en, Lili, trans. Master Tung's Western Chamber Romance. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994.
Roberts, Moss, trans. Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel. Attributed to Luo Guanzhong. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999.
Shi, Nai’an and Luo Guanzhong. Outlaws of the Marsh. Abridged version. Hong Kong: Commercial Press, 1991.

Roy, David T., trans. The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P’ing Mei. Volume One: The Gathering. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1997.
Cao Xueqin. The Story of the Stone. Volume 1: The Golden Days. Trans. David Hawkes. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1973.
Cao Xueqin. The Story of the Stone. Volume 2: The Crab-Flower Club. Trans. David Hawkes. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977 .
Cao Xueqin. The Story of the Stone. Volume 3: The Warning Voice. Trans. David Hawkes. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1981.

All books are available at the Rutgers University Bookstore in the Ferren Mall (across from NJ Transit/Amtrak Station).

Required Course Packet:
In addition to the books listed above,there is a required course packet for this course which will be available at Pequod Copy, 119 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 732.214.8787.


Reserve Books (Alexander Library Undergraduate Reserve)

All required books listed above are available in the Alexander Undergraduate Reserve.