George Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Chinese 355: Readings in Chinese
Poetry
Spring
2010
Class Meeting Time: MW 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Class Meeting Room: IN215G
Instructor: Chen, Xi
Telephone: (703) 993-1631
Office: Thompson 234A
Office Hours: MW 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.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 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: 100 Ancient Chinese Poems. Zhu,Hongda.
Beijing: Sinolingua 2008
Course Requirements
Participation
You are expected to attend all classes and be on time. 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 5 tests. Each test will include vocabulary, grammar, translation,
etc. The lowest score on a test (including zero for a missed test) will be
dropped when calculating the 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+ pages, typed, double-spaced, times new roman, size 12)
Each student will choose a date 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 Due5/5), 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.
Policy on Disabilities *Students with disabilities who seek
accommodations in a course must be registered with the GMU Disability
Resource Center (DRC) and inform the instructor, in writing, at the
beginning of the semester. Please see www.gmu.edu/student/drc or call
703-993-2474 to access the DRC.
Grading
Students will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Attendance + In class Performance
20%
Tests 30%
Recitation
10%
Homework 20%
Presentations 10%
Final Paper 10%
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 |
|
|
|
1/20 W |
Introduction to the course Introduction to poetry, Chinese
poetry, different genres of Chinese poetry |
|
|
Week 2
|
the book of songs 关雎(Goosing
and Wooing) |
|
|
1/27 W |
蒹葭 君子于役 |
|
|
Week 3 |
采薇 木瓜 |
|
|
2/3 W |
Songs
of Chu Dyn. 沧浪歌 Yue Fu (Music Bureau) 上邪(The
pledge) 江南(The south clime)
|
|
|
Week 4 |
Test1 |
Homework1Due |
|
2/10 W |
Cao Zhi 七步诗(Seven-step poem) Tao Qian 饮酒（其五） (DrinkingV) Anonymous
敕勒歌 （A Shepherd’s Song） |
|
|
Week 5 |
Chen Zi ang 登幽州台歌 (on Climbing Youzhou Tower) Wang Zhi Huan登鹳雀楼（On the Stork Tower） |
|
|
2/17 W |
Wang Zhi Huan 凉州词 (Song of Liangzhou) He Zhi Zhang回乡偶书(Coming Home) Meng Haoran 春晓 (A Spring Morning) |
|
|
Week 6 |
Wang
Wei 鸟鸣涧（The Dale of Singing Birds） 鹿柴(The Deer Enclosure) 相思(Love Seeds) |
|
|
2/24 W |
Test 2 |
Homework 2 Due |
|
Week 7 |
Li Bai 静夜思（A Tranquil Night） 早发白帝城(Leaving the White Emperor Town
for Jianglling) 秋浦歌 (Song of Qiupu) 自遣
(Solitude) |
|
|
3/3 W |
Du Fu 绝句(A Quatrain) 春望(A View of Spring) 江南逢李龟年(Coming Across Li Guinian On the Southern Shore) 饮中八仙歌之一(One of the Eight Immortal
Drinkers) |
|
|
Week 8 |
|
|
|
Week 9 |
Zhang Ji 枫桥夜泊 (Mooring at Night by Maple
Bridge) Meng
Jiao游子吟(Song of a Roamer) Bai
Ju Yi 赋得古原草 送别(Grass on the Ancient
Plain—Farewell to a Friend) |
|
|
3/17 W |
Li Shen 锄禾（悯农）(Weeding) Liu Yuxi 竹枝词 (Song of Bamboo Fronds) Liu Zongyuan 江雪(Fishing in Snow) |
|
|
Week 10 3/22 M |
Test 3 |
Homework 3 Due |
|
3/24 W |
Du
Mu 山行(Travel in the Mountains) 过华清宫绝句 其一(a Quatrain Composed When I
Passed by the Huaqing Palace) 清明 (The Day of Mourning For the
Dead) |
|
|
Week 11 |
Li Shangyin 夜雨寄北 (Written on a Rainy Night to My
Wife in the North) 乐游原(on the Merry-Making Plain) 无题 (to an Unnamed Lover) |
|
|
3/31 W |
Wang Anshi 泊船瓜州(Morring
at Guazhou) Su Shi 题西林壁(Inscription on the Wall of Xilin Temple) Li Qingzhao 绝句 (a Quatrain) |
|
|
Week 12 |
LuYou 十一月四日风雨大作 (a Storm on November 4th) Wen Jia 明日歌 (Song of Tomorrow) |
|
|
4/7 W |
Test 4 |
Homework 4 Due |
|
Week 13 |
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”) |
|
|
4/14 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 14 |
Li
Qing Zhao 如梦令 声声慢 (to the tune “One Beat Followed
by Another, a Long Tune”) |
|
|
4/21 W |
Ma Zhi
Yuan 天净沙 秋思 (to the tune “Sky-Clear Sand”
Autumn Thoughts) Wang Pan 朝天子. 咏喇叭(The Trumpet) |
|
|
Week 15 |
Test 5 |
Homework 5 Due |
|
4/28 W |
Brief Introduction to modern Chinese poems |
|
|
Week
16 5/ 3 M |
Recitation
& Course Evaluation |
|
|
5/5 W |
Final Paper
Due by 1:30pm Have a nice
summer! J |
|