Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description

CODE CHN3012

 
TITLE Modern Chinese Literature

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
EQF/MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit aims to provide the student with a thorough grounding of the topics and issues regarding the philosophical and literary traditions of modern and contemporary China. The programme of study focuses on reading and analysing major authors and their works, paying particular attention to the cultural and literary currents in China and Asia throughout the twentieth century. All of the literary works read in class will be offered in English translation.

Study-Unit Aims:

- Present to the students select literary works of major influential Chinese writers from the May Fourth Movement in 1919 to the twenty-first century;
- Help students gain a thorough foundation in the various literary movements and genres and discourses surrounding literary production in modern and contemporary China;
- Critically examine the the social, political and intellectual contexts of various time periods and how they were represented in literature.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will:

• Understand the characteristics and cultural significance of renown Chinese literary works and their authors;
• Identify and analyse the various historical and cultural contexts pertaining to different literary works read in class;
• Recognize a range of analytical frameworks that form the foundation of modern Chinese literature as an academic discipline.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

• Read, comprehend and analyse modern and contemporary Chinese literary texts (in English translation)
Critically comment on the social and political background issues current throughout East Asia as it relates to culture and literature Required and Supplementary Texts.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- C.T. Hsia, A History of Modern Chinese Fiction (1999)
- J. Lau and H. Goldblatt, The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Literature (2007)
- Wilt L. Idema, Guide to Chinese Literature, University of Michigan Press (1997).

Recommended:

- Kirk Denton, Modern Chinese Literary Thought: Writings on Literature, 1893-1945 (1996).

Further recommended reading, handouts, and visual aids will be distributed in class.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Nan Hu

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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