Completion of Chinese Literature and Society and department recommendation or completion of MNN Advanced Chinese Literature and History
Entry Proficiency Level: Advanced High
End of Course Targeting Proficiency level: Advanced High
Advanced Chinese Literature and Society aims to develop students’ advanced literary fluency and extensive reading and writing skills to an Advanced High standard. Chinese society in the 20th century is an important part of the course content. Students will study different genres of modern and contemporary Chinese literature, including poetry, novels, plays, and dramas. They will compare different genres and techniques of literary creation as well as create their own literature work by applying literature terms, advanced rhetorical devices, and extensive research skills. Through this process, students will gain a deeper and broader understanding of the social and historical realities as reflected in the works studied.
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
- Give the defining literary characteristics of major genres and styles of Chinese writing in the 20th century and identify their influence on contemporary literary and artistic expression.
- Discuss, compare, and analyze selected works by renowned contemporary writers.
- Identify and comment on the literary effect of stylistic devices used in varied literary genres.
- Examine the social and political role of literary and intellectual expression.
- Explore the social, historical, and political forces that have influenced 20th-century and contemporary writers.
- Comment on film, drama, and art as forms of aesthetic expression.
- Integrate advanced writing techniques into their writing.
- Acquire an in-depth understanding of modern Chinese history.
Students who have successfully completed this course or its equivalent may register for Advanced Chinese Literature and History. These two courses are not sequential; one may elect to take “Advanced Chinese Literature and Society” in one year and “Advanced Chinese Literature and History” the next year, or vice versa.