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Class: 2:30-3:20 PM   Rm: SC 114
Instructor: Ai-jen Wann
Office: SC G063.
Office Hours: W 4:00-5:00 PM; Th 2:00-3:00 PM
Phone: 496-1681
E-Mail: awann@purdue.edu

Text: Honglou meng Renmin wenxue yiben.  Supervised under Feng Qiyong.  3 vols. Beijing: Renmin wenxue chubanshe, 1982. Traditional Chinese version with illustrations.  Caihua ben Honglou meng jiaozhu. 3 vols. Taipei: Lejin Books, 1984. Rpt. with more illustrations, 1995.

Main Goals: a) We plan to finish reading 120 chapters of Honglou meng stressing its art, thought and arguments.  In order to achieve this goal, participants in the class must use after class time to read the novel according to the schedule sheet, which is designed on weekly basis.  b) Highlights of each weekly portion of the reading texts will be conducted in the manner of close reading, which includes: i) significant words, clues and scenes; ii) arguable puzzles, inconsistencies and mistakes; iii) important debates in redology; iv) analyses of characters and the development of its complex plots; v) your evaluations on achievements and flaws.

Requirements:

I. Regular Preparation for Each Weekly Session: Each week a two-person team is assigned to give i) summary of; ii) critique on the weekly reading texts.  The team is expected to provide all the class participants with copies of the outlines of their summary and critique, which should be 1-2 pages long of each in Chinese.  And, the team also needs to direct class discussions after their presentations.  Other participants in the class are expected to raise questions, point out missing messages, join discussions based on the team's presentations, and most importantly, share the agenda that you consider significant in giving a fair evaluation of this portion of the reading texts.

II. Take-home essays: There will be 10 take-home questions designed for the issues covered in the first 9 weeks.  You can choose 3 questions to write 3 short essays, and each essay should be 2-3 pages long.  The deadline is Mar. 20.

III. Term Paper: Create a topic about Honglou meng in which you feel most interested and confident to express your understanding and opinions.  Please discuss your topic with me by week 14.  For undergraduates, the term paper should be no less than 7 pages long; for graduate students, the term paper should be no less than 15 pages long including footnotes and bibliography.  The deadline is 5:00 PM, May 5.

* Take-home essays and term papers in Chinese must be written on 400 words of square sheets. I will give you a sample sheet.

Languages:

I. The class will be conducted mainly in Mandarin.  English will be occasionally used when necessary.

II. Since the class consists of three different groups of students, graduate students in Comparative Literature Program, graduate students in other majors and undergraduates, the requirements of take-home essays and the term paper are also different in order to fit each group's respective main purposed of taking this class.
a) Graduate students in Comparative Literature Program should write in English;
b) Graduate students and undergraduates can either write in English or in Chinese unless you want to receive Chinese credits from this class, then you must write in Chinese.

Grading:

I.    Class preparation & attendance.   15%
II.   Class discussions. 10%
III.  Presentations (summary & critique) 20%
IV.  Take-home essays  25%
V.   Term Papers  30%

Attention: Regular attendance is extremely important.  Absence is only acceptable due to an illness or any reasonable emergency, please let me know in advance or afterwards.  Excessive absences will be reflected in class preparation & attendance grade, the grading I scale.  Over 3 absences, each will cost 1% out of 15% as specified in the grading I scale.

Note to Students with Disabilities  If you have special needs related to a disability which may affect your performance in this course, please speak with the instructor after class to arrange an appointment as soon as possible to discuss your need privately.

Schedule:

Week 1 (Jan. 10, 12, & 14): Introduction to Honglou meng: Its authorship, versions and scholarships.

Week 2 (Jan. 19 & 21): Chapters 1-4.

Week 3 (Jan. 24, 26 & 28): Chapters 5-8.

Week 4 (Jan. 31, Feb. 2 & 4): Chapters 9-16.

Week 5 (Feb. 7, 9, & 11): Chapters 17-24.

Week 6 (Feb. 14, 16, & 18): Chapters 25-30.

Week 7 (Feb. 21, 23 & 25): Chapters 31-36.

Week 8 (Feb. 28, Mar. 1 & 3): Chapters 37-44.

Week 9 (Mar. 6, 8 & 10): Chapters 45-54/ Review & Directions for take-home essays. 
* Take-home essays are due on Mar. 20.

Week 10: Spring Break. No class.

Week 11 (Mar. 20, 22, & 24): Chapters 55-64.

Week 12 (Mar. 27, 29 & 31): Chapters 65-74.

Week 13 (Apr. 3, 5 & 7): Chapters 75-80.

Week 14 (Apr. 10, 12 & 14): Chapters 81-100.

Week 15 (Apr. 17, 19 & 21): Chapters 101-120.

Week 16 (Apr. 24, 26 & 28): Concluding thoughts on Honglou meng: Its art, thought and arguments/ Directions for term papers.
* Term papers are due by 5:00 PM, May 5.

[ Home | Introduction | Syllabus | Main Characters in Honglou Meng | Bibliography ]

15 Jan. 2000