This is a preliminary syllabus and is subject to change
EAST ASIAN STUDIES 396
MEIJI LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION
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Classroom: |
Course Number: 8884 |
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Meeting Times: T Th 4:15 p.m.-5:35 p.m. |
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Instructor: Susanna Fessler |
Office: Humanities 243 |
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Office Hours: T Th 3:00-4:00 and by appt. |
Phone: 518-442-4119 |
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e-mail: fessler@albany.edu |
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Course Description:
This course will examine several works of Japanese prose literature written during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). The works include an essay, novels, and short stories. Attention will be given to the question of modernity, character development, plot structure, and other topics. Students will also be assigned secondary reading on these novels. Class format will include lectures and discussion; preparation for class and class participation are an important part of student evaluation.
Required Texts:
Grass by the Wayside by Natsume Sōseki
In the Shade of Spring Leaves by Robert Danly
Wild Geese by Mori Ōgai
Broken Commandment by Shimazaki Tōson
ERes (Electronic Reserves)
Testing and Grading:
Students will be required to write one 10-page paper during the course of the semester. Students have the option of submitting a first draft for feedback before submitting a final draft. There will be a mid-term examination and a final examination, both of which will consist of short answer and essay questions. Attendance will be taken regularly; students are expected to attend class unless extenuating circumstances prevent it. There will be intermittent, unannounced quizzes on the content of the reading. These quizzes are EASY if you have done the reading, but IMPOSSIBLE if you have not. Missed quizzes on days when a student DOES NOT have an excused absence CANNOT be made up.
Course grades will be based on the following criteria:
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Mid-Term Examination |
20% |
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10-page paper |
30% |
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Final Examination |
20% |
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Quizzes |
15% |
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Class Attendance |
15% |
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Topic |
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Course Introduction |
None |
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Quick & Dirty History of Japanese Fiction |
None |
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Defining the Novel |
Tsubouchi, pp. 1-47 |
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Anatomy of the Novel |
Tsubouchi, pp. 48-101 |
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Tsubouchi Shōyō & Futabatei Shimei |
Ryan, pp. 1-95 |
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Prelude to a novel |
Ryan, pp. 96-190 |
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Floating Clouds |
Ryan, pp. 193-255 |
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Floating Clouds |
Ryan, pp. 256-356 |
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Background of Higuchi Ichiyō |
Danly, Part I |
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Higuchi Ichiyō’s short stories |
Danly, pp. 167-204 |
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Higuchi Ichiyō’s short stories |
Danly, pp. 205-253 |
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Higuchi Ichiyō’s short stories |
Danly, pp. 254-295 |
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Kunikida Doppo’s Realism |
Chibbett, pp. ix-xxx |
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Kunikida Doppo’s short stories |
Doppo, pp. 1-46 |
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Doppo’s short stories, con’t. |
Doppo, pp. 47-96 |
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Doppo’s short stories, con’t. |
Doppo, pp. 97-151 |
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Sōseki and the Psychological Novel |
Hibbett, all |
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Grass by the Wayside |
Sections 1-50 |
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Grass by the Wayside |
Sections 51-102 |
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Ōgai and the Problem of Fiction |
Snyder, all |
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Wild Geese |
pp. vii-77 |
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Wild Geese |
pp. 78-166 |
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Tōson and the Autobiographical Novel |
McClellan, all |
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Broken Commandment |
Chapters 1-8 |
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Broken Commandment |
Chapters 9-16 |
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Broken Commandment |
Chapters 17-23 |