Introduction to Japanese Literature

GHOSH DASTIDAR, Debashrita(Cybermedia Center)

Objective
   This course will facilitate students to discover the beauty of Japanese Literature. The literary works from each period of Japanese history have distinctive features. The course would be divided into five sections namely, ancient, classical, medieval, modern and post war period. The lectures would focus on key aspects of each period and the representative works followed by in-class discussion. Along with reading the text, students are expected to reflect on the authors' lives in order to further develop their understanding of cultural and socio-political phenomenon behind the conceptualization of that particular story. At the end of this course, students should be able to : Name the major writers and works in Japanese literary history. Describe how Japanese literature develops with time. Identify the key features of each period in Japanese literary history. Recognize the socio-political background of each period and how it affects individuals and subsequently influence literary works. Summarize own opinion about the development of Japanese literature.

Requirement / Prerequisite
   Surface or intermediate level knowledge. Students with out prior knowledge of Japanese Literature may also take this course.

Course Content
   LECTURE: Based on course content.
   VIDEOS (about 5minutes): Visuals to enhance understanding of the content/lecture.
   DISCUSSION: Based on "critical thinking indicators", tell each other what you think.
   IN-CLASS READING: Reading texts
   SUMMARIZING: Affective Response/Feedback-Students provide an evaluative response to the material.
  

Course Schedule

1. Orientation : Literature at a glance, Learning outcomes, Instructional Strategies and Grading policy
2. Nara Period (Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Manyoshu, Manyogana)
3. Heian Period (Genji Monogatari, Makura no Soshi)
4. Kamakura Period (Heike Monogatari)
5. Edo Period (Poetry Matsuo Basho:Oku no Hosomichi)
6. Meiji Period and Post-Meiji (Mori Ogai: Gan)
7. (Natsume Soseki: Botchan)
8. (Akutagawa Ryunoske: Mikan/Jigokuhen)
9. (Kawabata Yasunari: (Izu no Odoriko)
10. Post-War: Individual and Society
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:IQ84 or Norwegian Wood)

Textbook

• 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 20%
• Mini-Test 20%
• Group presentation 30% (mid-term)
• Essay (individual) 30% (term-end)