JPN/EAS 380
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Text: Kokoro,XXX, trans.
Monday, Nov. 7th |
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Readings: |
“Sensei and I,” “My Parents and I” (pp. 1-96)
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Questions to Consider: |
As was the case with our last book, it is safe to assume that reerence to elements of Western culture are very deliberate. What distinctly Western elements does the novel include and what effect do they have in the novel? None of the characters are named in this text. The characters are simply watakushi or "I," Sensei, Sensei's wife and, in the next section, K. What do you suppose is the reason for and the result of this anonymity. One of the major themes in the work (and of the literature of the time in general) is the conflict between individualism, usually associated with the West, and traditional Japanese culture and the collective or family unit. How is this conflict approached in the novel? Does it seem different than the attitude we have seen expressed in pre-modern texts in this class?
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Wednesday, Nov. 9th |
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Readings: |
“Sensei and His Testament” (pp. 97-192) |
Questions to Consider: |
This is perhaps the single most well-known novel in Japan and is consistently among Japanese readers' favorite works in an annual survey. What is there about it that warrants this status? How well does it hold up for a 21st century audience? Despite the above statement, when the novel is read in Japanese high school classes, typically only the final section, "Sensei' Testament." is read. What context do the other sections give to this final section, and how would its meaning change without that context? When those same high school students explore this last section, it is primarily in the context of Sensei's personal sense of ethics. Do you see his ethical position as admirable? as typically Japanese? as relatable to our society?
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