EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The class aims at providing an overview of the development of premodern Chinese literature (approximately from the ninth century B.C. to the mid-nineteenth century) by focusing on texts that occupy a privileged position in the Chinese literary canon and cultural imaginary. Among the main topics to be addressed are the earliest poetry collections, historiographical literature, the origins and development of classical-language fiction from the Six Dynasties period to the Tang dynasty, the poetry production of the Tang and Song periods, the drama of the Yuan period, and vernacular fiction from the late imperial period (from the end of the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth centuries), both in the short-story and the novel forms.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
During the exam, students will have to demonstrate a precise knowledge of the historical and cultural profile of Chinese literature, as well as familiarity with its main genres and with the best known and influential texts and authors. Students will also need to provide a critical commentary to the selected readings discussed in class during the semester.
FURTHER EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Making judgements:
Students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired critical instruments and the ability to analyse texts, as well as a sufficient judgement to be able to apply the acquired instruments to different texts from those studied and to make original comparisons between texts and themes that have been discussed in class during the semester.
Communication skills:
Students will have to demonstrate that they are able to discuss even complex issues in an articulate and efficacious fashion.
Learning ability:
Students will have to demonstrate that they have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
None
The class will consist of lectures aiming at presenting the main genres, themes, and cultural traits of the literary history of premodern China, as well as at discussing in detail a number of specific texts, so as to directly expose students to the practice of the critical analysis of literary texts.
The exam consists of an oral examination centred around the discussion of literary genres, literary texts, and relevant topics dealt with in class. Language of the oral examination: Italian. Evaluating criteria: Completeness of the information provided, discursive consistency, and correct usage of the technical vocabulary.
IDEMA, Wilt & Lloyd HAFT. Letteratura cinese. Venezia: Cafoscarina, 2008.
MAIR, Victor (ed.). The Columbia History of Chinese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001.
[In both cases only the parts regarding the topics addressed in class.]
Other reference works that may be consulted:
CHANG, Kang-i Sun & Stephen Owen (eds.). The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature. Two Volumes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
NIENHAUSER, William (ed.). The Indiana Companion to Traditional Chinese Literature. Two Volumes. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1986 & 1998.
The class aims at presenting the genres, themes and main cultural features of the literary history of premodern China, as well as at discussing in detail specific texts so as to directly expose students to the practice of the critical analysis of literary texts.
Italian
The course's program remains the same also for students who do not attend class.
