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Syllabus SOUTH ASIAN LITERARY MASTERPIECES - 8288
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Last update 30-09-2013
HU Credits: 2

Degree/Cycle: 1st degree (Bachelor)

Responsible Department: Amirim

Semester: 1st Semester

Teaching Languages: Hebrew

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: Yigal Bronner
Ofer Peres (TA)

Coordinator Email: yigal.bronner@mail.huji.ac.il

Coordinator Office Hours: By appointment

Teaching Staff:
Prof Yigal Bronner

Course/Module description:
In this course we will read a selection from the masterpieces of South Asian civilization.

Course/Module aims:
The purpose of this seminar is to familiarize the students with South Asian civilization through a selection of literary works in several languages (primarily from the classical Sanskrit tradition), to understand these works in their cultural context, and most importantly to enjoy reading from some of the world’s greatest literary masterpieces.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
To become familiar with South Asian culture and literature, to enjoy reading great literary masterpieces, and to become exposed to cultures other than the student’s own.

Attendance requirements(%):
85%

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Seminar

Course/Module Content:
The course is to be divided, roughly, to four separate parts. In the first, we will sample from the great Sanskrit epics, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa. In the second, we will turn to classical Sanskrit poems such as the great narrative works of Aśvaghoṣa and Kālidāsa, and to the latter’s famous play, the Abhijñānaśākuntala. In the third, we will read from shorter poems, either anthologies or works in the highly prolific “messenger” genre (we will begin with an early first-millennium anthology in the Prakrit language and end with a messenger poem from the fourteen-century, the Mission of a Goose by Vedānta Deśika). Finally, we will take a peek at Telugu poems composed in the sixteenth century and a twentieth-century Tamil novel, Sundara Ramaswamy’s Tale of a Tamarind Tree.

Required Reading:
See Moodle site for a detailed, weekly reading plan.

Additional Reading Material:

Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 0 %
Participation in Tutorials 10 %
Project work 45 %
Assignments 45 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 0 %

Additional information:
The grade will be determined by three short written responses to the reading materials (45%), one longer written assignment (45%), as well as attendance and active participation (10%), as explained in detailed in Hebrew.
 
Students needing academic accommodations based on a disability should contact the Center for Diagnosis and Support of Students with Learning Disabilities, or the Office for Students with Disabilities, as early as possible, to discuss and coordinate accommodations, based on relevant documentation.
For further information, please visit the site of the Dean of Students Office.
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