The primary goal of this course is to provide the student with a broad knowledge of post war Japanese Literature with some knowledge of pre-war writers. Students learn not only a body of literature but about the use of fiction to explore Japanese culture in the post-war era. The course will examine the works of post-war Japanese writers with the main focus on issues such as the emergence of the "modern" Japanese novel and its influences; dilemmas of a post-war generation of writers dealing with its experience related to the war; and last, but not least, the relevance of literature in providing insight into a culture. Students will also read essays in Japanese history and literary theory that will provide the tools for interpreting the literature in its own cultural and historical context.
