Author Archives: JSylvor

Please respond to one of the following questions by commenting on this post.  You may also feel free to respond to comments posted by your classmates!

-What’s the connection between the broad historical material about the Ming Dynasty that begins the story and the narrative about Du Tenth and Li Jia’s relationship that follows?

-What kind of person is Li Jia?  Does his behavior at the end of the story come as a surprise?  Why or why not?

-How are courtesans represented in the story?  Why do you think Feng Menglong chooses to depict them this way?

-Money plays a central role in the story.  What does “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” seem to be saying about the relationship between money and love?

-Feng Menglong was interested in using literature to teach morality.  What lesson is being imparted by this text

Hello! Welcome to English 2850, Great Works of World Literature II. If you are reading this, you have successfully found your way to our course blog. Please bookmark this site. This is where you can find information about the course, copies of all assignments, weekly prompts to accompany our readings, and important announcements.

*****Acquiring the books for the course should be at the top of your “To Do” List. The required textbook for our course is The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Martin Puchner, Ed.,  Third Edition,  Volumes D, E, F.   These three volumes are sold together as a package.  It is crucial that you buy or rent the Third Edition – which is not the most recent one available.  It is much cheaper than the fourth edition, available both new and used,  and contains the readings that you will need for our course.  Please get the books as soon as possible.  You will have reading assignments in the Norton Anthology every week, and you will need to have the text with you in class.

*****Your first assignment is simple.  Create a post on the blog in which you introduce yourself to the class.  It’s up to you what you choose to share in this post, but your introduction should be approximately 350-500 words.  Together with this brief introduction, please take a minute to upload a photograph of yourself to your blogs@baruch account.  This way, your face will replace the default bearcat avatar! Please share your introduction by Friday, February 2nd.

I am really looking forward to meeting you and to beginning our work together! If you have any questions or concerns about the course, please reach out to me at [email protected].

See you in class!

Professor Sylvor