Readings in Chinese literature
Course code
HIL7612.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Hiina kirjanduse uurimisprobleeme
Course title in English
Readings in Chinese literature
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
To give an in-depth, advanced perspective on fundamental literary genres, trends and movements, and phenomena in premodern and modern Chinese literature, including most recent literary trends and developments in the field, with a specific focus on various themes and subjects defined in the course program. Selected texts are read both in Chinese (students of Chinese) and in English translation. Various authors, genres and literary theories and methods of analysis are chosen based on the focus of the course, which may vary depending on the lecturer.
Brief description of the course
The course will begin with an introductory lecture followed by a series of seminars, which will cover various texts belonging to the premodern and/or modern and contemporary Chinese literary tradition. The course might focus on a general overarching topic or concept, or on the major themes of the literary production of one specific author, or a group of authors belonging to a certain literary circle or movement. Depending on the main focus of the course, novels, poems, theater pieces and short stories belonging to different genres will be selected to be read and commented on in class, reflecting and expanding on the issues discussed in the seminars. Chinese Studies students must read a selection from the original Chinese texts. The required reading consists of both literary works and academic studies (secondary literature, such as research articles, book chapters, books or essays, etc.) discussing their meaning, content and structure, and analysing the literary and narrative techniques at play.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- is able to identify the discussed issues in different literary works belonging to different genrres, either from the same author/literary current or in works from different authors;
- has acquired sufficient knowledge to independently and competently analyse a literary work of Chinese literature;
- Chinese studies students are able to work with Chinese texts;
- is able to compare works belonging to the Chinese literary tradition with similar writings in the West, identifying common underlying themes and establishing cross-cultural connections from a global comparative perspective.
- is able to identify the discussed issues in different literary works belonging to different genrres, either from the same author/literary current or in works from different authors;
- has acquired sufficient knowledge to independently and competently analyse a literary work of Chinese literature;
- Chinese studies students are able to work with Chinese texts;
- is able to compare works belonging to the Chinese literary tradition with similar writings in the West, identifying common underlying themes and establishing cross-cultural connections from a global comparative perspective.
Teacher
Study programmes containing that course