English 3325-2044: JAPANESE NOVEL


Dr. R. Frontain
Spring 2002
MWF 1-1.5
Irby 303
Office: Irby 421
Office Hours: MW 2-4.30
Phone: 450-5122
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A survey, largely historical in organization, of the major writers of Japanese fiction, from Murasaki Shikibu (by one generic definition, at least, the world's first novelist) to a quartet of writers who gained international visibility after World War II. Focus will be upon how a Japanese story is told and what stories the Japanese choose to tell.
TEXTS
Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji, trans. and abridged by Seidensticker
Ihara Saikaku, The Life of an Amorous Woman and Other Writings, trans. Morris
Fumiko Enchi, The Waiting Years, trans. Bester
Junichiro Tanizaki, The Makioka Sisters, trans. Seidensticker
Yasunari Kawabata, Thousand Cranes, trans. Seidensticker
Yukio Mishima, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, trans. Morris
Kenzaburo Oe, The Silent Cry, trans. Bester
The Showa Anthology: Modern Japanese Short Stories, ed. Gessel and Matsumoto
SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS

M 14 Jan. Introduction to Course
W 16 Jan. Discussion of Japanese Aesthetics (handout)
F 18 Jan. Murasaki, Tale of Genji, chap. 1

M 21 Jan. UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY
W 23 Jan. Murasaki, Tale of Genji, chaps. 2-4
F 25 Jan. " chaps. 5-6

M 28 Jan. " chaps. 7-9
W 30 Jan. " chaps. 10-12
F 1 Feb. Film: Anime Tale of Genji

M 4 Feb. Introduction to the "Floating World" of Edo Culture
W 6 Feb. Saikaku 55-76
F 8 Feb. " 76-99

M 11 Feb. " 100-118
W 13 Feb. Saikaku 121-48
F 15 Feb. " 148-76

M 18 Feb. " 176-208
W 20 Feb. EXAMINATION #1A (Passages)
F 22 Feb. EXAMINATION #1B (Essay)

M 25 Feb. Enchi, Waiting Years, 7-30
W 27 Feb. " 31-79
F 1 Mar. " 81-129

M 4 Mar. " 130-78
W 6 Mar. " 179-203
F 8 Mar. Kawabata, Thousand Cranes, 3-39

M 11 Mar. " 40-86
W 13 Mar. " 87-147
F 15 Mar. Conclude discussion of Kawabata

M 18 Mar. Tanizaki, Makioka Sisters, 1-30
W 20 Mar. " 30-63
F 22 Mar. " 63-97

SPRING RECESS

M 1 Apr. " 97-150
W 3 Apr. EXAMINATION #2A (Passages)
F 5 Apr. EXAMINATION #2B (Essay)

M 8 Apr. Mishima, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, chaps. 1-2
W 10 Apr. " chaps. 3-4
F 12 Apr. " chaps. 5-6

M 15 Apr. " chaps. 7-8
W 17 Apr. " chaps. 9-10
F 19 Apr. FILM: Mishima

M 22 Apr. Oe, Silent Cry, 1-60
W 24 Apr. " 61-100
F 26 Apr. " 101-40; Review of Paper Requirements

M 29 Apr. " 141-201
W 1 May " 202-74
F 3 May Conclude discussion of Oe; Review of Presentation Format
PAPERS DUE IN CLASS

M 6 May PRESENTATIONS 1-4
W 8 May PRESENTATIONS 5-8
F 10 May PRESENTATIONS 9-12

W 15 May (11-1): FINAL EXAMINATION

FINAL GRADE

The final grade will be computed as follows: Exam 1A-B (20%), Exam 2A-B (20%), Final Exam (20%), Paper and Presentation (20%), and Quiz Average (20%).