158-436 The Traditional Chinese Novel

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Chinese 3B.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Selected readings from the classic episodic novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Both the civil - 'talented young scholar and courtesan' - and martial - 'knight-errant' - traditions within the genre will be covered. Attention will be given to the historical and cultural conditions of the rise of the novel in China, and more generally the development of pre-modern vernacular fiction. Students who complete this subject should gain: familiarity with the development of prose fiction in traditional China; an appreciation of the ways in which Chinese narratives are structured; ability to re-cast pre-modern vernacular Chinese into modern Chinese; some facility in reading and translating unseen passages in the pre-modern vernacular language; and an appreciation of the continuing relevance of traditional literature in contemporary Chinese culture.

Assessment

Written work of not more than 3,000 words; one 3 hour examination.

Prescribed Texts

Materials supplied by the Department.