Introduction to Japanese Literature

Debashirita GHOSH

Objective
   This course is designed to help the students to discover the beauty of Japanese Literature. The literature from each period of Japanese history has distinctive features. To give an overall idea of Japanese Literature, the lecture would be divided into five categories. Ancient, classical, medieval, modern and post war. A representative work would be selected from each period and discussed in class. The works would cover a variety of genres. Along with reading the stories, the authors' lives and its relationship with the story would also be compared. This would enhance the understanding of the socio-political phenomenon behind the conceptualization of that particular story.

Requirement / Prerequisite
   As this is an introductory it is also open to students without prior knowledge of Japanese Literature. Also, this course would provide a good oppurtunity for students with basic/medium/deep level understanding of Japanese Literature to brush up their knowledge.

Course outline
   This is an introductory course to Japanese Literature in English focusing on Pre-Modern to Contemporary Literature with emphasis on Meiji and Post War period. Along with studying the content and the literary aspects of each work, analyzing the text in terms of socio-political and western influences are also essential. The aim of the course is to enable students to read, understand and enjoy the rich Japanese Literature by identifying the underlying themes and critical perspectives.

Course Schedule
   1. Introduction: Literature at a glance
   2. Nara Period (Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Manyoshu, Manyogana)
   3. Heian Period (Genji Monogatari, Makura no Soshi)
   4. Kamakura Period (Heike Monogatari)
       Edo Period (Poetry Matsuo Basho:Oku no Hosomichi)
   5. Quiz/Meiji Period and Post-Meiji (Mori Ogai: Gan)
   6. (Natsume Soseki: Botchan)
   7. (Akutagawa Ryunoske: Mikan/Jigokuhen)
   8. (Kawabata Yasunari: (Izu no Odoriko)
   9. Mid-term presentation (Group)
   10. Mid-term presentation(Group)
   11. (Oe Kenzaburo:Shisha no Ogori)
   12. (Mishima Yukio: Excerpts from Kamen no Kokuhaku)
   13. (Abe Kobo: Kabe/R62go no Hatsumei)
   14. Last few years: (Murakami Haruki: Norwegian Wood/IQ84)
   15. Term-end essay and presentation (Individual)
  

Textbook and Reference
   Readings

   Keene, Donald (Ed.) (1956) Modern Japanese Literature; Grove press; New York
   Keene, Donald (1955) Japanese Literature: An Introduction for Western Readers; Grove press; New York
   Morris, Ivan (Ed.) (1962) Modern Japanese Stories: An Anthology; Tuttle Publishing; Tokyo
   Reischauer, Edwin O&B. Jansen (1977) The Japanese Today: Change and Continuity; Tuttle Publishing; Tokyo
   Richie, Donald(1997) Lafcadio Hearn's Japan, Tuttle Pub, VT, USA
   Varley, H. Paul(1973) Japanese Culture; University of Hawaii Press; Hawaii
  

Grading
   Class Participation/attendance 20%
   Quiz 20%
   Presentation (Group) 30%
   Term-end essay (Individual)30%