|
|
Asian 203 Literature and Culture of India: Ancient and Classical |
|
ASSIGNMENTS Weeks I and II. Introduction to course and readings from Rig and Atharva Veda. The unit on the Rig and Atharva Vedas will begin with the lecture on Wednesday, January 7th and continue through the class session on Friday, January 18th. We will be reading substantial portions (but not all) of the Penguin Classics edition (translated by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty) of verses from the Rig Veda. Lecture and discussion sessions will deal with the following verses, all of which you are required to read. Note that you should have read the listed verses before class on the day for which the verses are assigned. Be sure to bring your textbook to each class session. Wednesday, January 7. To all the Gods: 8:30 (pp. 22); Creation: 12.129, 10.121, 10.90 (pp. 23-32); Death: 10.14; 10.16 (pp. 41-51); Horse Sacrifice (1.163; 1.162 (pp. 85-93). Friday, January 9. Elements of Sacrifice: 10.71, 10.125, 10.173, 10.33, 10.101 (pp. 59-68); Agni: 1.1, 2.35 (pp. 97-99, 104-07); Soma 8.79, 9.74, 10.94, 4.58, 4.26-7, 10.119 (pp. 119-32). Monday, January 12. Indra: 1.32, 2.12 (pp. 139-40, 148-51, 160-62), Gods of the Storm (intro., p. 163), Maruts: 1.85 (pp.165-67), Parjanya 5.83, 7.101 (pp. 172-75); Solar Gods (pp. 177-79); Dawn and the Ashvins 1.92 (pp. 179-81); Rudra and Vishnu (2.33, 1.114, 1.154 (pp. 219-27). Wednesday, January 14. Women: 10.10, 10.95, 8.91, 10.40, 10.85 (pp.245-50, 252-57, 264-71) Friday, January 16. Realia: 10.9; 7.49, 7.103, 9.112, 6.75, 10.34, 10.46 (pp. 229-43); Incantations and Spells: 10.97, 10.164, 7.55, 10.145, 10.159, 10.184, 10.162, 7.104, 1.165 (pp. 283-97). Note: Numbers given above next to specific topics refer to verse numbers in the Sanskrit text of the Rig Veda. The page numbers given above (referring to the O'Flaherty translation) are not only to the actual Vedic verses, but also to notes and introductions to specific sections. The introductions and notes should be read carefully, as they provide information that will help you in understanding and interpreting the often difficult Vedic hymns. On Friday, January 16th, we will also be discussing excerpts from another Vedic text, the Atharva Veda. Readings will be passed out in class. Weeks III, IV and V. The Mahabharata The readings for this unit are all taken from the Narasimhan translation of the Mahabharata. This is not a full translation of the original, but rather a prose retelling of selected verses. Be sure to bring your copy of the translation to class each day. Wednesday, January 21. Read the introduction (pp. xix-xxix) and the Adi, Sabha, and Aranyaka Parvas (pp. 2-71). PAPER 1 DUE. Friday, January 23. Read the Virata, Udyoga and Bhisma Parvas (pp. 72-141). Monday, January 26. Read the Drona, Karna, Salya, Sauptika, and Stri Parvas (pp. 142-189). Wednesday, January 28. Complete the text (i.e., Santi, Anusasana, Asvamedha, Asramavasika, Mausala, Mahaprasthanika, and Svarga-Arohanika Parvas [pp. 190-216]. Friday, January 30. No new assigned reading. Saturday, January 31. Film showing of Peter Brook version of the Mahabharata. 1:00-4:30 p.m. The room for this showing will be announced in class. Monday, February 2. Class discussion of film version of Mahabharata. Some class time will also be used to discuss the midterm examination. Wednesday, February 4. Midterm Examination. Friday, February 8. Guest lecture by Professor Richard Salomon on the Upanishads by way of a transition to the Bhagavad Gita. Class reading of the Isa Upanishad. Week VI. The Bhagavad Gita Monday, February 9. Introductory lecture on Bhagavad Gita. Read Introduction to Miller edition of Gita (pp. 1-13), as well as the first six teachings (pp. 29-69). Wednesday, February 11. Class discussion on Bhagavad Gita. Read the seventh through twelfth teachings (pp. 71-113). Friday, February 13. Class discussion on Bhagavad Gita. Read the thirteenth through eighteenth teachings (pp. 115-154). Weeks VII-IX. Works by Kalidasa. Monday, February 16. No class. Presidents' Day holiday. Wednesday, February 18. Reading of Tamil Sangam poetry (to be passed out in class. PAPER 2 DUE. Friday, February 20. Introduction to "Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection." Read the first two acts (pp. 83-107) in the Thapar edition. Monday, February 23. Read Acts 3 through 5 of "Shakuntala and the Ring of Recollection" in Thapar, pp. 108-39). Wednesday, February 25. Complete remainder of "Shankuntala and the Ring of Recollection" (= Acts 6 and 7) in (pp. 140-69). Friday, February 27. Read the Sakuntala episode from the Mahabharata, given in Thapar, pp.16-35. Monday, March 1. Read verses 1-56 of "The Cloud Messenger" in the Leonard Nathan translation. Wednesday, March 3. Complete reading of "The Cloud Messenger." Friday, March 5. NO CLASS. WEEK X. The Pancatantra. Monday, March 8. Read "Pancatantra" through Book I (p. 70). PAPER 3 DUE. Wednesday, March 10. Read "Pancatantra" through Book II (p. 104). Friday, March 12. Read remainder of "Pancatantra" (i.e., Books III-V [pp. 105-59].
| |
|
Last Updated: |
Contact the instructor at: hindimcs@u.washington.edu
|