George Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages

Fall 2008 CHIN311 – Modern Chinese Literature in Translation

Class Meeting Time:      TR 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Class Meeting Place:      FAB B212
Instructor:                      Chen, Xi
Office Location:            Thompson Hall 234-A
Office Hours:                 TR 10:45a.m.- 11:45p.m.and by appointment
Office Phone:                (703) 993-1631
E-mail:                          xchen8@gmu.edu

Course website: http://mason.gmu.edu/~kzhang/index.html

Course Description/Objectives

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of Chinese literature of the twentieth century.  We will examine examples of the major literary genres such as fiction, poetry, prose and women’s writings.  As we read, we will question our assumptions about tradition and modernity.  Among some key questions to be asked are: what is Modern Chinese literature?  What does it tell us about the cultural, social, psychological and historical changes that occurred in twentieth century China? 

The course format combines lecture and discussion.  Brief lectures by the instructor will introduce historical background and propose possible frameworks for reading the texts.  In-class discussions will allow you to share responses, exchange ideas, check understanding, and practice close reading.  It is hoped that through the readings and discussions you will be able to gain a broad knowledge of Chinese literature, develop independent and critical thinking in a stimulating, non-judgmental environment.

Required Textbooks(available at the GMU bookstores)

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Literature. Eds. Joseph S.M. Lau and Howard Goldblatt. Modern Asian Literature Series. New York: Columbia University

Press, 1995.

The literature of China in the twentieth century. Bonnie S. McDougall and Kam Louie. New York : Columbia University Press, c1997

 Recommended Reading

Modern Chinese Stories and Novellas, 1919-1949. Eds. Joseph S.M. Lau, C.T. Hsia, and Leo Ou-fan Lee. Modern Asian Literature Series. New York: Columbia University Press, 1981.
Additional Readings will be available in class.

Course Requirements

1.  Attendance & in class performance. Attendance of class sessions is crucial. Students should keep in mind that part of their grade is based on attendance and that absences count against them regardless of the reasons. There will be no penalty for the first two missed classes. After that, however, each absence will reduce the final grade by one percentage point. Class participation is expected since talking with fellow students is the best way to learn. So earn your good grade the fun way—start and keep talking in class! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

2. Quizzes A pop quiz will be given on any day.  It will be a couple of simple questions on material covered in the class lectures.  Be prepared and read before class.

3. Presentation (10-minutes oral report and 3-4 pages of written report) Please do NOT just summarize the text(s), except when you are presenting the criticisms. But you are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions. More details will be given in class.

4. Final Paper (6-8 pages, 12 point font, double spaced Due12/4 ), which analyzes and discusses at least one of the texts we cover in class.  Please do NOT just summarize or cite long quotes from the readings without analyzing them or explaining.

5. Midterm Exam in class.

6. Final Exam in class. Final exam consists of short essay questions. A review sheet will be given a week before the exam.    

7. Extra Credits   Some Extra Credit reports will be offered to anyone who would like to go extra miles to learn in more depth about modern Chinese culture, art, or literature. However, no extra credit points will be accepted after the final exam.

Honor Code. The George Mason University Honor Code is in effect throughout the entire duration of the course and applies to all course work carried out inside and outside the classroom. It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the GMU Honor System and Code as laid out in the Student Handbook.
Please refer to http://www.gmu.edu/mlstudents/handbook/honor.html for detailed information.

Grades
Final grades are composed as follows:

Attendance + in class performance 20%

Quizzes                                             15%

Presentation                                      15% (10%oral+5%paper)

Final Paper                                       20%

Midterm Exam                                 10%

Final Exam                                       20%

Grading Scale
A         100-93
A-         92-90
B+         89-87
B           86-83
B-          82-80
C+         79-77
C           76-73
C-          72-70
D           69-60
F            59-  0      

Session Schedule

Date	Class
Week 1 8/26 T	Introduction to the Course What is “modern” “Chinese” literature? Screening:  China, in Revolution 1911-1949   Discussion
8/28 R	Screening:  China, in Revolution 1911-1949 continued Discussion Sign up for the presentation	McDougall & Louie 13-30; 93-99
Week 2 9/2 T	The "Literary Revolution" and May Fourth period Lu Xun, “Preface to Call to Arms,” Sign up for the presentation
9/4 R	Lu Xun, “A Madman’s Diary”                “Medicine
Week 3 9/9 T	Lu Xun, “Kong Yi Ji”                “New Year’s Sacrifice”
9/11R	Literary Groups and Societies Literary Research Association Creation Society Crescent Society Yu Dafu “Sinking”	McDougall & Louie 21;53; 100-102
Week 4 9/16 T	Xu Dishan “Merchant’s Wife” Shen Congwen Screening: Girl from Hunan	McDougall & Louie 105-109; 125-128;
9/18 R	Screening: Girl from Hunan continued
Week 5 9/ 23 T	Shen Congwen “Xiaoxiao” Mao Dun “Spring Silkworms”	McDougall & Louie 109-114
9/25R	Xu Zhimo “Second Farewell to Cambridge”; “Chance” Wen Yiduo “Dead Water” “One Sentence” Li Jinfa “Woman Abandoned” Dai Wangshu “Rainy Alley” “With My Injured Hand”	McDougall & Louie 31-42; 51-54;54-59;68-69
Week 6 9/30 T	Ding Ling “Miss Sophie’s Diary”;“When I was in Xia Village”	McDougall & Louie 130-134; 212-215;
10/2 R	Ling Shuhua “the Night of Midautumn Festival” ;“Embroidered Pillows”	McDougall & Louie 121-123
Week 7 10/7 T	Zhang Ailing “Sealed Off” “the Golden Cangue”	McDougall & Louie 249-251
10/9 R	Zhou Zuoren, “Reading on the Toilet,” Lin Yutang, “My Turn at Quitting Smoking,” Liang Shiqiu, “Haircut,” Zhu Ziqing, “The Silhouette,” “Moonlit Lotus Pond,”	McDougall & Louie 43-45; 46;
Week 8 10/ 14T	Columbus Day No Class!
10/ 16 R	Midterm Exam
Week 9 10/ 21 T	Literature after 1949 Hundred Flowers Movement Anti-Rightist Campaign Cultural Revolution Screening “to Live”	McDougall & Louie 189-208; 325-345
10/ 23 R	Screening “to Live” continued
Week 10 10/ 28 T	Chen Ruoxi “The Tunnel” Ba Jin “Remembering Xiao Shan” Wen Jie Ruo “Living Hell”	McDougall & Louie 128-130, 215-217
10/ 30 R	Misty Poetry Bei Dao “Answers”, “Declaration” Shu Ting “To the Oak”, “A Cry of a Generation” Gu Cheng “The Generation”, “Far and Near”, “An Ending”	McDougall & Louie 432-435; 435-436; 436-438
Week 11 11/ 4 T	Can Xue “Hut on the Mountain” Yu Hua “On the Road at Eighteen”	McDougall & Louie 409-410; 410-412;
11/ 6 R	Liu Heng “Dog Shit Food” Wang Anyi “Granny”	McDougall & Louie 412-414; 410-412
Week 12 11/ 11 T	Bai Xianyong, “Winter Night” Chen Yingzhen, “My Kid Brother Kangxiong”	McDougall & Louie 444
11/ 13 R	Huang Chunming “Fish” Wang Zhenhe “An Oxcart for a Dowry”
Week 13 11/ 19 T	Yuan Qiongqiong, “Tales of Taipei,” Zhu Tianwen, “Find De Siecle Splendor,”
11/ 21 R	Liu Yichang “Wrong Number” XiXi “a Woman Like me”
Week 14 11/ 25 T	Ji Xian “A Wolf” Yu Guang zhong “Nostalgia” Luo Fu “ City:Saigon, 1967” Xia Yu “Sweet Revenge”
11/ 27 R	Happy Thanksgiving! No class!
Week 15 12/ 2 T	Final Paper Peer Review Screening: “the Wedding Banquet”
12/ 4 R	Screening: “the Wedding Banquet” Continued	Final Paper Due
Thursday, December 11 1:30p.m. - 4:15 p.m.	FINAL EXAM (in our classroom) HAPPY HOLIDAYS! J