Chinese Literature: Analects of Confucius and Irony in Poetry

Chinese Literature

• Major Achievement: The Four Great Classical Novels: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West, and Dream of the Red Chamber.
• Confucius: Known for his Analects, a collection of teachings and sayings. These writings focus on ethics, morality, and social harmony, advocating for a just and orderly society. They offer insights into human nature, relationships, and the pursuit of virtue.
• Confucianism in the West: Confucian teachings were introduced to the West by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century. These teachings have influenced Western philosophy and thought, prompting discussions on values, ethics, and social order.
• Li Bai (Li T’di Po): Known for his romantic and lyrical poetry, celebrating the beauty of nature, wine, and friendship. His work is characterized by its vivid imagery, natural rhythm, and effortless flow.
• Li Bai Legend: Li Bai is known for his love of wine and poetry. He had a reputation for being a charismatic, eccentric figure with a penchant for drinking and composing poetry under the influence of alcohol. Some accounts claim that he died while trying to catch the moon's reflection in the Yangtze River.

This quiz focuses on Chinese Literature, specifically the Analects of Confucius and the identification of irony in poetry. Students will be expected to select and interpret maxims from the Analects of Confucius and identify irony in a poem while relating it to similar themed proverbs.