外国文学双语教学课程教学大纲

Bilingual Course for Foreign Literature

1

外国文学双语教学课程教学大纲

Bilingual Course for Foreign Literature

(Syllabus)

Introduction

This course tends to teach Western literature bilingually, and the students who

will attend the class are from the Chinese Department. Western literature here refers

to European literature from Greek literature to the twentieth literature and American

literature since the 19th century, including non-English and English speaking

countries’ literature, although the teacher may often focus on the literature of some

English-speaking countries.

The students are required to be familiar with the basic knowledge of Western

literature, its development, and the important literary movements, as well as

celebrated literary figures. At the same time, they are asked to read some famous

pieces, especially some masterpieces, which are to be printed as hand-outs.

This course consists roughly of two parts: lectures and discussions. In the former

part, the teacher plays the leading role, while in the later, the students are encouraged

to express themselves in English.

Equipment Required: multimedia classroom.

Number of students restrained: 50 per class.

Time required: 3 hours per week, 18-19 weeks per term, in 2 terms.

Total teaching hours: 112-114

Contents of the Course

The first term

I.

Ancient Literature ( 15 periods)

Introduction Bilingual Course for Foreign Literature

2 The background of Greek literature and its position in European literature and

culture; How the Mediterranean played an important role in the formation of Greek

Culture; The achievements of Greek literature: myths and legends; Hesiodos’ poetry

and its reality-oriented theme; The ―Tenth Muse‖ Sapho and her lyrics; A brief

introduction Homer’s epics; A brief introduction to Greek drama; Aesop’s fables and

Aesop’s age; Greek literary theory and Socrates, Plato and Aristotle; The difference

and relationship between Greek and Roman culture.

Greek literature

1. Mythology

Greek mythology and Greece: its origin; Four sources of Greek mythology: A.

Homeric Creation Myth; B. Pelasgian Creation Myth; C. Orphic Creation Myth; D.

Olympian Creation Myth

Greek mythology and the disposition of Greeks; The Characteristics of Greek mythology

and anthropocentricism; The stories of the beginning of the heavens and earth and major gods on

Olympus; Significance of Greek mythologies and legends and their influence.

2. Homer

(1) Homer and Homeric Epics

(2) Contents of Homeric Epics

The Iliad

The Odyssey

(3) Characters in Homeric epics

Achilles

Hector

Odysseus

(4) Significance of Homeric epics

It is the reflection of clannish and ancient Greece.

Courage and bravery

Its influence upon later European literature

(5) Art

Structure

Character depiction

(6) Supplementary readings

3. Drama

The origin of Greek drama and the Festival of Dionysus; Life and writing of

Aeschylus; Life and writing of Sophocles; Life and writing of Euripides. Bilingual Course for Foreign Literature

3 Works to be analyzed:

Aeschylus: The Oresteia (a trilogy)

Sophocles: Oedipus the King

Euripides: Medea

Roman literature

Formation and geographical situation of Rome; Historic periods of Rome;

Roman literary achievements; Relationship between Rome and Greece; How

Romans borrowed even stole from Greece.

Virgil (70-19 B. C.): His writing and The Aeneid

Christian literature

Europe and Hebraic and Hellenic traditions; Judaism and Jesus Christ; Origin

and formation of Christianity; Promulgation of Christianity in Greece and Rome;

Rome’s acceptance of Christianity; Christianity in Medieval Europe.

Four Gospels and Christian literature:

Mathew

Mark

Luke

John

II. Medieval Culture and Literature(6 periods)

Introduction

1. Historical background

2. The collapse of Western Roman Empire and the rise of Byzantine Empire

3. Emergence of nations or tribes

4. Christianity and the Medieval Ages

National epics

▲Beowulf

▲The Edda(13th century)

▲The Saga

▲The Song of Roland(La Chanson de Roland, <罗兰之歌>)

▲Song of the Nebelungs (Das Nibelungenlied, <尼布龙根之歌>)

▲The Song of the Cid (<熙德之歌>)Eleventh-Century Spain

▲The Tale of Igor's Campaign (<伊戈尔远征记>)