Fictional Narratives In Chinese Fiction

AY2014/2015 Semester 1

This course investigates the narrative tradition in Chinese literature, including story-telling tradition, fictional narrative, and the novels. Primary emphasis will be on the late imperial period. Major genres and texts of this tradition will be covered and approached from different perspectives. In particular close attention will be paid to narrative structure, rhetoric, narrative themes, and issues such as gender relations, moral values and conflicts, societal and individual ideals and aspirations.