CMLT-C 400 (26449)
Comparative Perspectives on The Tale of Genji

Meets with: C574 (26451) Japanese Western Studies		
TR 2:30 p.m.--3:45 p.m. ~ A&H Credit		
			
Virginia Woolf called it a “twentieth-century novel,”  comparatists
have called it the world’s first novel, and any Japanese person is
bound to name it the greatest classic in her culture. The Tale of
Genji was written by a waiting lady known by the nickname of Lady
Murasaki during the 11th century, “the golden age” of courtly
culture in Japan.  In order to appreciate the complexity of its
narrative, gender, psychology, and poeticity, we will give the work
a close reading by the latest English translation by Royall Tyler.
We will examine the work from a variety of angles. It will be
compared with writings by other women of the time (the autobiography
of Mother of Michitsuna, essays by Lady Sei, and poems by Lady Izumi
and others). Early modern European writings (Lady Lafayette’s The
Princess of Cleves, Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and Laclos’  Les
Liaisons danereuses) and Asian examples (including The Life of
Chunhyang from Korea) will be studied either in the whole or in
selections side by side with The Tale of Genji. We will also study
pictorial representations of the novel, beginning with The Tale of
Genji Scroll of the 12th century down to modern adaptations in
films, stage plays, TV programs, comic (manga) books, and animated
films with references to western and Asian examples.  (Graduate
students will read  Laclos’ novel, from which undergraduates will be
spared. Graduate students are also encouraged to pursue the issues
of translation and
of theory.)

There will be 4 short essays besides a midterm examination. Graduate
students will have 3 seminar meetings in addition to class sessions.
They will also write a seminar paper in addition to 4 short essays.

No knowledge of Japanese or Japanese literature is expected.
Prerequisite: at least one literature course on the 300-level or
higher.  Enrollment is limited to the total of 15 (10 for C400 and 5
for C574).