Genres to be read include philosophy, poetry, history, drama, and novels. These works will be approached both as representative of East Asian civilization and as monuments of world literature. Examines the role of lyricism, humor, and women, as well as Chinese and Western literary differences. Course is taught in English. Students with native ability may read the works in Chinese.
Course is taught in English.
This two-semester course consolidates and further expands students' knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and further develops reading ability through work with textbook materials and selected modern essays and short stories. Class discussion will be in Chinese insofar as feasible, and written assignments will be given. Students are supposed to be able to understand most of the readings with the aid of a dictionary, so that class discussion need not focus primarily on detailed explanation of grammar. Discussion, to be conducted in Chinese, will concentrate on the cultural significance of the readings' content. Chinese Students are required to have knowledge of traditional Chinese characters in order to read short selections of early literary prose.