文類與文化

臺北科技大學 115-1 學期課程，課號 363901。

課程大綱

在西方，「傳奇」不像其他的文類般受到認定和推崇，很難將它定位歸類，有點像是古典文類的小跟班。傳奇既沒有悲劇史詩的莊嚴崇高，也沒有抒情詩的優美，更沒有喜劇的逗趣嗆人。但是它卻以通俗文類一脈流傳，一直到二十一世紀。傳奇始於中古世紀，後來並沒有發展成自成一格的文類，反而在寫作和思想上超越了原本的形式，形成了特殊的風格。我們可以說，傳奇入侵其他傳統文類，與之結合，然後重新塑形，因而變化多端，成為現代西方文化中一股無所不在的強大力量。本課程將回顧傳奇的發展史，從中古時期獨樹一格的文類，到了現代發展成具有哲學和詮釋特質的一種形式。我們的重點將探討這之間的變化如何發生? 並研究為何傳奇在西方歷史中歷久不衰，甚至成為我們理解現代西方思想及特色的一扇重要窗口。 In the West, romance has often seemed to win less acclaim than other genres, a strange younger sister to the celebrated classical forms, not quite as sublime as epic tragedy, not as beautiful as lyric, not as provocative as comedy. Yet it has nonetheless endured as a popular form into the 21st century. Evolving since the Middle Ages to become less a genre in its own right than a transcendent mode of writing and of thought which invades, combines, and reshapes the other traditional genres, romance's protean nature has made it an omnipresent and influential force in modern Western culture. This course will trace the development of romance as a genre and as a philosophical and interpretive mode from the Middle Ages to the present, as we ask how it has changed and why it has persisted throughout Western history, becoming essential to our understanding of thought and of character in the modern West.

課程進度

Course texts are subject to change over the summer as I continue to refine the course, something that will certainly be necessary with the new 16+2 format. This is the first year that I have taught the genre and culture course under its new course description, about the Romance. In the past, I taught a course more generally on fantasy, which is one of my research interests. However, many of the authors I am discussing also considered their works to be Romances. (And, as you take this course, keep in mind that the Romance has nothing to do with Romantic love [though it occurs in some of the stories] but instead comes from the fact that the original works were written in Romance languages (e.g. Old French) instead of Latin! (We won't be reading Old French Romances, but we will spend a little time with King Arthur.) Texts may include the following, though I may switch one or two out. Week 1--Introduction (Robert Louis Stevenson [there is a chance I may switch a Stevenson novel for one of the works below] and Andrew Lang) Weeks 2–4 (Arthurian Romance) --Parts of Le Morte d'Arthur and of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight --Part of Alfred Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King Week 5 --Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale (Shakespearian Romance) (Read aloud or viewed) Week 6 TBA (Lecture Series if it comes through) Week 7 Gulliver's Travels 8–10 --Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Gothic Romance) [or Pauline Hopkins's Of One Blood] Week 11–12 --Parts of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre (Novel vs. Romance) Week 13–15 --Tolkien's The Two Towers (we will watch Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring in class in week 13 and may discuss parts of the text it is adapted from, followed by weeks of discussion of The Two Towers) Week 16--Tolkien wrap up and Paper Peer Review +2 (Student consultation on their final paper/independent reading) (This schedule may be modified at my discretion.)

評量方式

Students will be assessed via reading quizzes, their class discussion participation, presentations and creative projects, and essays. Attendance also factors into the grade.

教材

【遵守智慧財產權觀念，請使用正版教科書，不得使用非法影印教科書】 使用外文原文書：是 Books and course packets will be used.