Survey of Afro-Asian Literature

1. EL205 - SURVEY OF AFRO-
ASIAN LITERATURE

2. PRELIMINARIES
A. Program : BSE - English
B. Course Code : EL205
C. Course Title : Survey of Afro-Asian Literature
D. Credit Units : 3 units
E. Time Duration : Wednesday (10 am – 1 pm)
F. Faculty : Nataniel M. Tesnado

3. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course deals with an intensive study of the selected
literary texts from Asia and Africa, particularly India, China,
Japan-the countries in the southeast region in Asia, and the
African nations-south of the Sahara, along socio-historical,
philosophical, and literary underpinnings.

4. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Using research-based content knowledge, the pre-service
English teachers will be able to understand, analyze, and
appreciate the outstanding characteristics: contexts,
dimensions, elements, genres and structures, of Afro-Asian
literatures which can lead to promotion of cultural tolerance.

5. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Moreover, they are expected to come up with an annotated
reading list of the chosen literary texts and a synthesis paper
that presents their critical interpretation and tolerance of
diverse cultures encountered in the study of the select texts.

6. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES/
WEEKLY TOPICS

7. WEEK 1
Recognize the VMGO of the College anchored on the
University’s Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives;
 Orientation
 Course Syllabus
 Course Requirements
 Class Policies

8. WEEK 2
 Characterize African literature;
 Share representative literary works by early and
contemporary African writers; and
 Discuss the prevailing ethos, ideas and philosophies behind
the chosen literary text.

9. African Literature
1. Characteristics of African Literature
2. African Writers and Poets
3. African Poems and Short Stories
4. African Literature
Suggested Literary Pieces:
- Africa by David Diop
- Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer
- Anticipation by Mabel Dove-Danquah

10. WEEK 2
 Trace the historical background of Egyptian and Arabian
literature;
 Summarize selected literary pieces; and
 Articulate one’s awareness of how language works in literary
text and author’s style in writing.

11. Egyptian Literature & Arabian Literature
1. Types
2. Tales and Love Songs
3. Myths and Legends
4. Prose
5. Poetry

12. Egyptian Literature & Arabian Literature
Suggested Literary Pieces
 The Thousand and One Nights
 The Tale of Sinuhe (anonymous author)
 The Quran/Koran
 The Arabian Nights by Tahir Shah
 The Lady and Her Five Suitors
 Love by Kahlil Gibran
 The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

13. Egyptian Literature & Arabian Literature
Suggested Literary Pieces
 Bewildered Arab by Nour-od-Din Abd-or-Rahman-e Jami
 The Food of Paradise by Ibn Amjed
 Count Not Your Chickens before they Hatched
 To Whom Should I Speak Today by T. Eric Peet

14. WEEK 3
 Survey the outstanding characteristics of Chinese and Hindu
literature;
 Compare and contrast the forms of Chinese and Hindu prose
and poetry; and
 Organize an annotated reading list of selected Chinese and
Hindu literature

15. Chinese Literature & Hindu Literature
Suggested Pieces:
The Five Classics and the Four Books
-A Wife Mourns for her Husband by Confucius

16. Chinese Literature & Hindu Literature
Suggested Pieces:
Mahabharata (Ganesha, Vyasa) -
Panchantantra collection of Fables by Vishnu Sharma
Panchatantra Stories
Bhagavad Gita by Vyasa
Abhilaash (Hindi for Desire) by Rabindranath Tagore
Gitanjali by Tagore
Plays and Poems of Kalidasa

17. WEEK 4
 Perform the differentiated tasks that exemplify their
understanding of Hebrew and Persian literature; and
 Prepare an annotated reading list of the chosen literary
pieces.

18. Hebrew Literature & Persian Literature
1. Nature of the Hebrew
2. Language, Poetry and Prose
3. Masterpieces of the Jews
Suggested Pieces
Genesis: The Creation
Psalm 23
The Ecclesiastes
The Story of Joseph

19. Hebrew Literature
 The Story of Ruth
 The Parables (The
 Good Samaritan, The
 Last Seat, Prodigal Son, Talents
1. Characteristics of Persian Literature
2. Persian Prose and poetry

20. Persian Literature
1. Characteristics of Persian Literature
2. Persian Prose and poetry

21. Suggested Pieces:
 Rubaiyat by Omar
 Khayyam
 Hafiz’s Poetry
 Rumi’s epic and poems
 Ferdowsi’s writings

22. WEEK 4
Characterize Japanese and Korean literature;
Compose haikus; and
Write a synthesis paper on the various literary pieces of Japan and
Korea.

23. Japanese Literature
1. Development of Japanese literature from the beginning up to the
modern period
2. Life and works of Japanese authors
3. Haikus of Basho, Buson and others
Suggested Pieces:
• Tale of Genji
• The Madman on the Roof by Hiroshi Kikuchi
• In a Grove by Akutagawa Ryunosuke

24. Korean Literature
1. About Korea
2. Literary Works of Korea

25. WEEK 5
Explain how the Vietnam and Indonesian literature mirrors the
customs and traditions of the people;
Reason out how literature affects the history and culture a
nation like Vietnam and Indonesia; and
Organize an annotated reading list for all the outstanding
literature of Afro-Asian countries.

26. Vietnam Literature
1. Facts about Vietnam
2. Poetry and Short Stories
Suggested Piece:
 The Mandarin and the Flower Festival by P. Khiem

27. Indonesian Literature
1. Pujangga Lama
2. Traditional Forms
• syair (traditional narrative poetry)
• pantun (quatrains made up of two seemingly disconnected couplets)
• qurindam (brief aphorism)
• hikayat (stories, fairytales, animal fables, chronicles)
• babad (histories or chronicles)
Suggested Piece:
Everybody has his Burden (Indonesian Folktale)

28. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
 Writing an Analysis Paper

29. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
GRADING SYSTEM:
 Term Examinations 30%
 Quizzes 20%
 Project/Activities 30%
 Participation/Recitation 10%
 Attendance/ Promptness 10%
 TOTAL 100%

30. Active Class Participation— This includes active and consistent sharing of ideas
and insights in the class. A brief insight for all the activities and outputs is also
highly encouraged.
Oral Report— a 15-minute oral report should be done satisfactorily once for the
whole semester.
Written Outputs – written outputs should be submitted with utmost effort and to a
certain level of intelligibility. Plagiarism is highly discouraged and thus, subject
for sanction as indicated in the Student’s Handbook.
Note: All course requirements must be satisfactorily completed to pass the
course.

31. CLASS POLICIES
1. Missed Examinations
Missed Examinations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
2. Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism is a serious offense and is more than just copying or
borrowing work from a classmate, website, author etc.

32. QUESTIONS?