短篇小說選讀

The aim of this course is straightforward: to introduce to students some of the best short story writers and their works, and to encourage perceptive observations of textual and narrative subtleties. The special focus, however, is on reading from a crafty perspective rather than from a scholarly one. Students are most welcom to have their creative works in-progress as the final projects. The class and lecture will proceed in mandarin.

1. intro 2. Stephen King, “The Reach”; Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper” 3. H. P. Lovecraft, “The Call of Cthulhu” 4. Ted Chiang, “Story of Your Life” 5. Cixin Liu, “The Wages of Humanity” 6. Kazuo Ishiguro, Two Stories 7. no class 8. Raymond Carver, “The Bath,” “A Small, Good Thing” 9. mid-term 10. Isaac Bashevis Singer, “The Spinoza of Market Street”; James Joyce, “A Painful Case” 11. Sherwood Anderson, “The Book of the Grotesque,” “Hands“ 12. Amos Oz, “The King of Norway,” “Two Women” 13. Amos Oz, “Between Friends,” “Father” 14. Amos, Oz. “Little Boy,” “At Night” 15. Amos Oz, “Dier Ajloun,” “Esperanto” 16. Ferdinand von Schirach, “Fähner,” “The Ethiopian” 17. oral reports on the final projects 18. final

weekly oral reports 30% mid-term 30% final 40%

Amos Oz, Between Friends. And various handouts. *The book will be placed on the library's reserved shelf.