Korean Studies Seminar 2: Modern Korean Literature in
its Contexts
Brother Anthony (An Sonjae)
Monday, Wednesday, 3 - 4:50 pm
This course should normally be taught for 5 weeks, with 2 sessions
lasting 110 minutes each week; however, because the other teacher
cannot be in Seoul for the first week, I shall teach 4 sessions in
that week and the other teacher will make up his missed sessions
over the following weeks, as indicated below.
In the course, we will study the overall evolutions of Korean
literature during the later 20th century, both poetry and fiction.
We shall read a good number of works by writers, always in English
translation, discuss their characteristic features in theme and
structure, compare them one with another, and situate them in the
course of modern Korean history. All students will be required to
read the prescribed texts before class, and present their personal
ideas during each class hour; this will demand a lot of
preparatory reading, there is no other way!
The main text books will be: 20th-Century Korean Literature (EastBridge, online)
The page-numbers in the syllabus below refer to this book. Modern Korean Fiction: An Anthology,
edited by Bruce Fulton and Youngmin Kwon (Columbia University
Press). The titles below in brown
are from this book.
For many more translations and articles, see Brother Anthony's
home page http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/
Translations of texts will be available
online or as an offprint.
Syllabus
Week 1:
Class 1 / 2 : (Monday, June 25, 2012. 1:00-4:50 pm) Introduction
to the course and overview of modern Korean history and
literature.Survey of pre-1945 poetry (pages
13-17, 28-34): Kim Sowol, Manhae, Chŏng Chiyong, Kim Yŏng-nang,
Sŏ Chŏng-ju
Class 3 /4 : (Wednesday, June 27. 1:00-
4:50 pm) Fiction
from 1936 Yi Sang, “Wings,”
Yi Hyosŏk “When the Buckwheat Blooms,”
Survey of post-1945 poetry (pages
39-46, 48-54): Sŏ Chŏng-ju, Pak Mog-wol, Cho Chihun, Kim Su-yŏng
Week 2:
Class 5 (Wednesday, July4.
3:00-4:50 pm) Survey of post-1945 fiction (pages
37-39, 46-48, 54-60) Hwang Sunwŏn "Shower",
Cho Sehŭi “Knifeblade.”
Friday Field Trip: Hwaseong Fortress and Korean
Folk Village
Week 3 :
Class 6: (Wednesday, July 11. 3:00-4:50 pm) Survey of
post 1970 poetry (pages 73-78, 90-94) Shin Kyŏng-Nim, Ku Sang,
Chŏn Sang-Pyŏng, Kim Kwang-Kyu, Chonggi Mah, Kim Sŭng-hŭi.
Week 4 :
Class 7: (Monday, July 16. 3:00-4:50 pm) Survey of
fiction (pages 78-82, 86-90): Yi Mun-yŏl "The Old Hatter," Ch’oe Yun "Watching Father,"
Class 8: (Wednesday, July 18. 3:00-4:50 pm)
Poetry: Ko Un
Week 5 :
Class 9: (Monday, July 23.
3:00-4:50 pm) A
Bale of Saltby Ku Hyo-sŏ
Class 10: (Wednesday, July 25. 3:00-4:50 pm) Poems by younger contemporary
poets, then final examination about the poetry we have read in
class
Written assignment,
1) (due Monday July 16)
Write something interesting about the Korean
culture seen in the places we visited during the field trip
related to the literary works we have seen ( 2-3 pages double
spaced)
2) (due Monday July 23) Write an interesting essay about Yi
Mun-yŏl's "The Old Hatter" and Ch’oe Yun's "Watching Father"
(2-3 pages single spaced)