George Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages

Chinese 355: Readings in Chinese Poetry

Spring 2009
Class Meeting Time: MW 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Class Meeting Room: ENT176
Instructor: Chen, Xi
Telephone: (703) 993-1631
Office: Thompson 234A
Office Hours: TR 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and by appointment
E-mail: xchen8@gmu.edu
Website: http//:mason.gmu.edu/~kzhang

Course description

This course is designed as a survey of Chinese poetry and poetics. Close readings and discussions of primary poets and texts will cover the major periods in classical modern Chinese poetry. Literary analysis will focus on the large variety of themes, forms, and styles making Chinese poetry one of the most intriguing subjects of literary study. In this context, we will also consider some of the main literary and poetic theories that have shaped Chinese writings. Rather than presenting Chinese poetry as one unified body of writing, the goal of this course is to give the student an idea of the wide-ranging poetic traditions that have emerged from the poet’s response to changes and continuities in society, history, environment, and self.

This course is intended for students with an interest in Chinese history, literature, and culture in general and in the study of Chinese poetry and poetics in specific.

The course will

· familiarize students with a selection of Chinese poetic writings that represent the richness and broad range of Chinese poetry and poetics, as well as reflect major trends in history and culture that have shaped and defined Chinese poetry.

· offer approaches to the study of poetry and how to explore and discuss those texts as literature and as texts that provide the basis to discuss role and purpose of poetry within the Chinese context.

· place the study and discussion of Chinese poetry and poetics within the historical, cultural, and social context of its time, thus anchoring the student’s learning and knowledge within the larger framework of Chinese studies.

Required Textbooks: Handouts

Course Requirements

Participation
You are expected to attend all classes and be on time. Come prepared since there will be pop quizzes on the materials covered in the previous sessions. 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.

Recitation
Recitation is one of the major methods of learning in traditional China. During the last week of the semester you will be asked to recite several short pieces we have studied in class. More details will be given in class for this.

Tests
There will be 4 tests. Each test will include vocabulary, grammar, translation, etc. Each test is worth 5% of your final grade. There are NO MAKE-UPS for missed tests. Consult your instructor if your absence is fully justified.

Homework

Homework will be due on the due day as marked in the session-by-session syllabus. Late homework will be corrected, but penalized 50% of the possible score.

Presentations (2; 2+ pages each, typed, double-spaced, times new roman, size 12)

Each student will choose 2 dates to present on his/her readings of the poems and the poet(s). Your job is to point out the things that define the poet and to analyze the poem(s)—theme, imageries, style, other people’s comments, etc. You are expected to give a CLEAR detailed picture of the poet and poem(s), by which you will be graded. It should be about 5-10 minutes. Bonus points will be given to those with clarity and originality.

Final Paper

Final Paper (6-8 pages, 12 point font, double spaced Due5/6), which analyzes and discusses at least one of the texts we cover in class.  The final paper for this class is open topic. You can choose any topic relevant to Chinese poetry. Please do NOT just summarize or cite quotes from the readings without analyzing them or explaining.

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.

Grading
Students will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Class Participation 20%

Tests        20%
Recitation   5%    
Homework             20%

Presentations 20% (10%+10%)
Final Paper 15%

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

Session Schedule

Date	Class	Homework
Week 1 1/19 M	Martin Luther King Holiday, university closed
1/21 W	Introduction to the course Introduction to poetry, Chinese poetry, different genres of Chinese poetry
Week 2 1/26 M	Happy Chinese New Year! Book of Poetry 关雎(Goosing and Wooing)
1/28 W	Book of Poetry 蒹葭(The Reed) 君子于役 (My man is away)
Week 3 2/2 M	Book of Poetry 采薇(Home-coming after war, selection) Music Bureau 上邪(The pledge)	Homework1 Due
2/4 W	Cao Zhi 七步诗 （Written While Taking Seven Paces） Tao Qian 饮酒（其五） (Drinking Wine V) Anonymous 敕勒歌 （A Shepherd’s Song）
Week 4 2/9 M	Test1	Homework2 Due
2/11 W	He Zhi Zhang 回乡偶书（ Home-Coming） Wang Zhi Huan 登鹳雀楼（On the Stork Tower） Meng Hao Ran 春晓 (Spring Morning)
Week 5 2/16 M	Wang Wei 鸟鸣涧（The Dale of Singing Birds） 相思(Love Seeds) 九月九日忆山东兄弟(Thinking of My Brothers on Mountain Climbing Day)	Homework 3 Due
2/18 W	Li Bai 静夜思（A Tranquil Night） 早发白帝城(Leaving the White King’s Town at Dawn) 秋浦歌 (My White Hair) 自遣 (Solitude)
Week 6 2/23 M	Du Fu 望岳（Gazing at Mount Tai） 饮中八仙歌之一(One of the Eight Immortal Drinkers) 春望(Spring View)	Homework 4 Due
2/25 W	Meng Jiao 游子吟（ Song of the Parting Son） Bai Ju Yi 赋得古原草 送别(Grass on the Ancient Plain—Farewell to a Friend) Du Mu  清明 (The Day of Mourning For the Dead)
Week 7 3/2 M	Liu Zong Yuan 江雪 （Fishing in Snow） Li Shen 悯农(The Peasants) Li Shang Yin 无题 （TO an Unnamed Lover）	Homework 5 Due
3/4 W	Test 2
Week 8 3/9-15	SPRING BREAK
Week 9 3/16 M	Li Yu 乌夜啼/相见欢 to the tune “Crows Call at Night”(or “Pleasure at Meeting) 虞美人 to the tune “Beautiful Lady Yu”	Homework 6 Due
3/18 W	Su Shi 水调歌头 to the tune “Prelude to the River Tune” 念奴娇 赤壁怀古 to the tune “the Charm of Niannu” Meditation on the Past at Red Cliff
Week 10 3/23 M	Li Qing Zhao 如梦令 声声慢 to the tune “One Beat Followed by Another, a Long Tune”	Homework 7 Due
3/25 W	Ma Zhi Yuan 天净沙 秋思 to the tune “Sky-Clear Sand” Autumn Thoughts
Week 11 3/30 M	Test 3	Homework 8 Due
4/1 W	Xu Zhimo “Second Farewell to Cambridge”; “Chance”
Week 12 4/6 M	Wen Yiduo “Dead Water” “One Sentence”
4/8 W	Dai Wangshu “Rainy Alley” “With My Injured Hand”
Week 13 4/13 M	Misty Poetry Bei Dao “Answers”, “Declaration”	Homework 9 Due
4/15 W	Shu Ting “To the Oak”, “A Cry of a Generation”
Week 14 4/20 M	Gu Cheng “The Generation”, “Far and Near”, “An Ending”
4/22 W	Ji Xian “A Wolf” Yu Guang zhong “Nostalgia”
Week 15 4/27 M	Luo Fu “ City:Saigon, 1967” Xia Yu “Sweet Revenge”
4/29 W	Test 4	Homework 10 Due
Week 16 5/ 4 M	Recitation & Course Evaluation
5/6 W	Final Paper Due by 1:30pm Have a nice summer! J