This class is an introductory survey of the literature of Asia,
with a specific focus on India, China and Japan. The course will
focus on fiction, poetry, and religious texts, drawing from our
textbook, The Literature of Asia, along with other books that might
change from term to term.
Our approach to Asian literature will be hybrid: both critical and creative. That is, imagine the literary text is an automobile. A critical approach opens the hood of the car and allows you to examine the engine to see how it works. A creative approach takes this one step further and asks you to build your own engine, based on what you have learned by looking under the hood.
In this sense, ENGL 120 is an introduction to not only Asian Literature, but also to the English Department at Whittier. Our major is structured so that students can use take the critical path with a little bit of creative writing or the creative path with lots of critical classes added in to give balance and support to your writing.
Our approach to Asian literature will be hybrid: both critical and creative. That is, imagine the literary text is an automobile. A critical approach opens the hood of the car and allows you to examine the engine to see how it works. A creative approach takes this one step further and asks you to build your own engine, based on what you have learned by looking under the hood.
In this sense, ENGL 120 is an introduction to not only Asian Literature, but also to the English Department at Whittier. Our major is structured so that students can use take the critical path with a little bit of creative writing or the creative path with lots of critical classes added in to give balance and support to your writing.
- Teacher: Tony Barnstone