This course is a study of major developments in the history and art of traditional Chinese fiction. It examines selected works written in both classical and vernacular language forms that represent a variety of story forms, from zhiguai 志怪 (Accounts of Anomalies), chuanqi 传奇 (Transmitting the Remarkable), bianwen 变文 (Transformation Texts), hua-pen 话本 (Storybooks) to longer classical novels from the Ming to Qing dynasties. The literary approach focuses on plot construction, characterization, narrative stance, techniques of conveying meaning, and historical and cultural connotations in the texts. The rich sources of classical Chinese fiction—history, mythology, Daoism, and Buddhism--will be probed as they were transformed in the fiction of different eras.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of classical Chinese literature is expected. Assignments are in Chinese.