Korean Literature in Translation I (KOR 351)
Instructor: Jae-Ick Park
Office: Baldy 643
e-mail: jp234@buffalo.edu
Office Hour: M-F 12:40-1:40 p.m. or by appointment
Phone Number: 716-645-2177 ext. 743
KOR 351
ENG 463
MW 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Classroom: 102 Clemens
I. Course Objectives
Students in this course will read and appreciate classical Korean literature from early times to the 19th
century. The works covered in this course is chosen for the students to overview the characteristic genres in
Korea and learn the social and cultural background reflected in the old literature. Focus will be placed on
the reading of classical Korean works.
II. Contents of the Course
The classical Korean literature will be taught in two parts--prose and poetry. The poetry includes hyangga
(oldest poems), shijo (10th-19th), and kasa (18th-19th). The prose will include folk tales, essays, short
stories (18th) and pansori novels (18-19th).
III. Texts
Course Packet available at ________________________. Make an order before you pick up.
IV. References
Chung, Chong-wha. 1989. Korean Classical Literature: An Anthology. London: Kegan Paul International.
Ha, Tae-Hung and Grafton Mintz (Trans.). 1972. Samkuk Yusa by Ilyon (1206-1289). Seoul, Korea: Yonsei
University Press.
Kawashima, Fujiya. 2002. What is Yangban?—A Legacy for Modern Korean. IMKS Special Lecture Series
7. Yonsei University.
Kim, Kichung. 1996. An Introduction to Classical Korean Literature: From Hyangga to P’ansori.
Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
Lee, Peter (comp. and ed.). 1981. Anthology of Korean Literature: From Early Times to the Nineteenth
Century. Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaii Press.
Lee, Peter (ed.). 1996. Sourcebook of Korean Civilization 1-2. New York: Columbia Univ. Press.
Lee, Peter. 1998. Explorations in Korean Literary History. IMKS Special Lecture Series 1. Yonsei
University.
Park, Seungbae el. al. 2005a. Simcheongga Heungboga (English Trans). Seoul: Minsokwon.
Park, Seungbae el. al. 2005b. Sugungga Jeokbyeokga (English Trans). Seoul: Minsokwon.
Pihl, Marshall. 1994. The Korean Singer of Tales. Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series 37.
Rutt, Richard and Chong-un Kim. 1974. Virtuous Women: Three Classic Korean Novels. Seoul: Korean
National Commission for UNESCO.
Zong, In-Sob. 1953. Folk Tales from Korea. New York: Grove Press.
V. Course Requirements and Grading Policy
Attendance (15%)
Response Reports (30%)
Individual Lecture (10%)
Mid-term Essay (15%)
Final Paper (20%)
Final Presentation (10%)
1. Punctual and perfect attendance is recommended. One undocumented absence or two late will deduct 1%
of total coursework (100%). Four or more absences will fail the course.
2. The response report to the assigned reading material should be single-spaced, a half-page long. This can
be substituted by a short reading check-up quiz. Students will be given an equal opportunity to share their
response to the given literary work. It is not necessarily theoretic. They are expected to show their actual
reading the specific work for the class. (Graded 8 times)
3. Individual lecture will be done by introducing a certain portion of the given literary work of the week to
the class. (Weeks 9-14).
4. Mid-term essay is intended to have an opportunity to appreciate a work of student’s choice more
seriously. It does not require professional theoretical account for the work but may present the
characteristics of classical Korean literature. (3-4 pages).
5. Final Paper should be written in 5-7 pages. It should be different from the topic in the mid-term essay.
Topics will be chosen by the student, who will get advice from the instructor.
6. The final paper will be presented during the last week. Fifteen (10) minutes of presentation and 5
minutes of questions and answers sessions will be scheduled. One-page handout should be prepared.
7. Grades are given according to the following scale.
A : 92-100
A-: 90+
B+: 87+
B: 82+
B-: 80+
C+: 77+
C: 72+
C-: 70+
D+: 67+
D: 62+
D-: 60+
F: 60-
VI. Class Schedule (Subject to Change)
Wk Dates
Topic or Reading
Course Pack
Further Reference
Preparation and
Due
1
8/29-31
Class Orientation and Introduction
HO
Syllabus
Introduction to Korean Literature
HO
Kim, Kichung. 1996
Lee, Peter. 1998
2
3
9/5-7
9/12-14
Hyangga (Poetry Before 10th century)
HO
Kim, Kichung. 1996:11-23
Shijo (Poetry from 10th-19th Century)
HO
Kim, Kichung. 1996:75-93 Response report
Continued
Kim Sisup, The First Novel Written in
CP 63-69
Response report
Chinese letters in Korea (The New Stories
from Mt. Keumo)
4
9/19-21
Heo Kyun, The First Novel Written in
CP 12-26
Korean (Hongkiltongjeon)
Kim, Kichung. 1996:141-
Response report
157
Continued
5
9/26-28
Heo Kyun, Essay on Writing (Munseol)
CP1: 9-11
Park Ji Won, Three Short Stories
CP1: 29-41
Chung, Chong-wha. 1989
Response report
(Heosaengjeon, Yangbanjeon, Hojil)
6
10/3-5
Continued
Continued
7
10/10-12
The Life of Mrs. Park of Hamyang
CP1: 42-44
The Story of a Young Widow (Anonymous)
CP1: 45-50
Zong, In-Sob. 1953
Kawashima, Fujiya. 2002
8
10/17-19
Poetic Epics (Kasa)
CP1: 51-58
Chunhyangjeon
CP2
Mid-term Essay
Rutt, Richard and Chongun Kim. 1974
9
10/24-26
Continued
Response report
Continued
10 10/31-11/2 Continued
Movie View of Chunhyangjeon
11 11/7-10
Shimchongga
CP2
Pihl, Marshall. 1994
Response report
CP2
Park, Seungbae el. al.
Response report
Continued
12 11/14-17
Continued
Heungboga
2005a
13 11/21-23
Continued
Continued
14 11/28-30
Sugungga
CP2
Park, Seungbae el. al.
2005b
Continued
15 12/5-7
Final Presentation
Final Presentation
16 12/12-14
Final Writing
Final Paper
Due 12/14 (M)
Response report