Genji Reading Group

Link to Genji in Chinese

Genji (and other texts) in Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Schedule

Mondays, 3:10 to 4 (with room reserved until 4:30). Ending Nov 28. Location: EA Library Rm 241 (Numata Room, where we met the first day.) ... If I am not already there, the class is listed under my name and someone at the circulation desk will probably unlock the room for you.

• Oct 17: through chapter 14 (this page will give you the correct Japanese titles to these chapter numbers)
• Oct 24: chapters 15-23
• Oct 31: chapters 24-34 (a bit long)
• Nov 7: chapthers 35-39
• Nov 14: chapters 40-46
• Nove 21 chapters 47-50
• Nov 28: chapters 50-54

Preparing for "class"

• Read.
• Bring particular scenes, situations, events or characters that you would like to discuss.
• Bring questions about stuff. (Try to remember page numbers or at least chapter numbers.)
• Be ready to mention a narrative moment your especially liked or did not like (and say why).

About this group

The Genji Reading Group meets to discuss with me the Tale of Genji separate from the course presentation of the work. It is not intended to improve one's grade for the course; it is meant to allow students who are interested in being more involved in reading Genji than is made possible through the abridged version in class. There is no grade advantage nor extra credit through being involved with this group.

At the first meeting we will organize ourselves and set our goals. But we will also discuss up through chapter 9 so if you have not already done so, go back and read the in-between chapters.

The first meeting is Monday, Oct 10, in the East Asian Library, Numata Room (room 241, downstairs). Please wait quietly outside the room if it is locked. We have reserved the room for 3:10 to 4:10.

While keeping up with the reading is not required, I prefer a small group of students who have done the reading, at least nearly every week, rather than a larger group of mixed students, some who are there just to listen. We will NEVER summarize the story so if the plan was to try to sort the story out by listening in, please don't participate.

Since fairness is important to me, we will not be discussing mujōkan, uchi-soto and such. We will approach things differently.

Scheduling, reading "assignments" and other announcements & comments will be on this page, not the reguarly announcement page. So please check back here now and then.

The location for week two is not yet set.

Random links

List of characters and what chapters they appear in: http://www.meijigakuin.ac.jp/~pmjs/resources/genji/characters.html