JPTR 3210

This is my favorite class this semester. Each class consists of reading around 50 pages (give or take 20 pages depending on the day) of The Tale of Genji and having a 75-minute discussion of the book (two classes a week). The whole book is 1120 pages, and we are reading the Royall Tyler unabridged version of the book. The story is thrilling like a tv show, and each class's discussion is quite fun as well.

The Tale of Genji is literally the parent of all light novels; however, there are significant cultural differences between the time of 1000 AD Heian Japan and today. There is polygamy, and affairs are common and accepted. The characters are adults by around age 12. Our protagonist Genji is relatively promiscuous, but he loves all the women he meets. Therefore, if you cannot come to terms with this significant cultural difference, I suggest you do not take this class, as the character relationships make up the crux of the book.

As for assignments, each discussion class we need to submit a one-page daily response — analysis and interesting observations made during the class's reading. They are a completion grade. There is a five-page essay due in the first month, and a 15-page essay at the end of the semester as the final grade. If the student gets a higher grade on the 15-page essay, then their five-page essay grade is also raised. A five-minute presentation is done on the last day of class regarding something related to Heian Japan (music, poetry, court life etc.). It seems relatively chill.

Prof. Heldt is very nice and gives insights into the book during our discussions. He does tend to interrupt, but he lets the students talk it out often. Everyone has to lead one discussion, and that typically means finding interesting sections of the homework reading to discuss during class. One can literally go onto CourseHero summaries to know which parts are important and then find the corresponding quote in their own text.

I'll update this review when the semester ends to elaborate further on the grading.