Chinese Literature Background

Schools of Thought:

Buddhism

Confucianism Taoism

Famous “Failures”

She was nicknamed “Storky” in school because of her height, and no one asked her to dance at her first school dance.

Most of his teachers thought he was mentally retarded.

His high school teacher said to his father, “It doesn’t matter what he does, he will never amount to anything.” And asked that he be expelled.

Dropped out of high school; had to take special exams to get in to college...failed the first time.

His first screen test report read: “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Balding. Can dance a little.”

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His first company failed.

His second company failed.

At one point, he could not pay his rent and was surviving by eating dog food.

His greatest invention was turned down by a major company because the corporate leaders thought it would terrify women.

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Also...our main man Confucius! Poor family (maybe noble) Young Scholar First person to believe in education for all

and to regard teaching as a life’s work Gave lessons in moral character

◦ Proper and necessary to the ruling classes◦ Longed for a more public position

Longed to reform society with a traditional code of honor and personal ethics

Notions were out of step with leaders◦ Oppression and violence

Confucius returned home to teach a small group of followers

Died leaving no writings; followers compiled his teachings long after his death.

Confucianism•Founder = Confucius•Deals primarily with social morality•Carry out prescribed duties of family and society•Respect for elders•Importance of Education—Chinese govt. for 2,000 years•Analects and Book of Songs

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Taoism•Founder = Lao-tzu•Nature is the greatest teacher•Goal is to become one with nature• Importance of stillness and inaction in achieving peace of mind.

•Mystical•Tao Te Ching

Stresses the importance of ridding oneself of earthly desires

Seeking ultimate peace and enlightenment through detachment.

Stresses living ethically and de-emphasizing material concerns and goods.

Buddhism

Yin and Yang•Yin = passive and feminine•Yang = active and masculine•Symbolic of the importance of balance in Chinese culture.

Characteristics of Chinese Literature

•Poetry=highest art form•Human•Straightforward•Celebrates Nature•Lyrical—short, human feeling, sometimes music•Balance/Harmony

Considered an exercise for the mind and spirit, not merely a literary pursuit

Often involving contemplation of nature Search for harmony between inner and

outer worlds Almost all lyrical Book of Songs—Confucius said not studying

them would be like closing your eyes to the world.◦ Until recently Chinese students studied and

memorized all 305!

Chinese Poetry

Confucius said not studying them would be like closing your eyes to the world.◦ Until recently Chinese students studied and

memorized all 305! Tend to have strong regular rhythms that

echo classical Chinese instruments. Best known for direct outpouring of human

feeling◦ Themes of separation, hardship, and love.

TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

RLT

The intentional repeating of a sound, a word, a phrase, a line, or an idea in order to create a rhythmic effect, build suspense, or add emphasis.

Repetition

Repetition Can be used to draw

attention to a specific idea

Can be used to show growth when that idea is changed

Can add tension Provides symmetry

Personification the attribution of a

personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

Allusion A reference to a

statement, person, place, event, or thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, or some other field of knowledge.

The expression of an idea in language that suggests more than one meaning.

Ambiguity

grammar.about.com/od/terms/g/ambiguity.htm

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“The chicken is ready to eat!”

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ParadoxAn apparent contradiction that is actually true.

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I am always right unless

I am wrong.

“I can resist anything but temptation.”

~Oscar Wilde

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there

can be no more hurt, only more love.”

~ Mother Teresa

If someone says "I always lie," are they telling the truth? Or are they lying?

Style The unique manner in which writers use language to express their ideas.

Mood Is the feeling or atmosphere the writer creates with words and images

MaximA concise and direct statement of a rule of conduct or proper behavior.

“He who hesitates is lost.”

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Imagery Language that appeals to the senses. (Most images are visual)

“Blood that flows like red-hail”

Alliteration The repetition of consonant sounds in words close together.

Enhances the musical quality of poetry.

“Sally sells seashells by the seashore.

Dewdrops on daffodils

Raindrops on Roses

Winter wonderland

RhythmThe alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables in language.

The wind in her hair The chair that sat there