Advanced Literary Sanskrit

SANSKRIT 201R Subject & Catalog Number

Description

"In this course we will read well-known examples of Sanskrit poetry, prose, and  literary theory. We will also study Sanskrit commentaries and learn how to learn from them responsibly." 

On a sentence- or paragraph level, students will explain the basic syntactical constructions and grammatical features of the (quite challenging!) texts they read. Along the way, students will develop the ability to recognize many of the conventions of scholastic Sanskrit. No matter which texts we decide to read, it’s safe to say that students will have a good deal of practice working with abstract noun constructions. Students will strengthen their scholastic vocabularies in general; in addition to that, students will develop technical vocabularies related to the texts they read and the specific intellectual discipline(s) in which those texts are situated. On the level of the longer passage or indeed the text as a whole, students will be able to (at different points) summarize, describe in detail, and critique the ideas that are being communicated in the text. 

Many lessons will involve students collaborating with their peers. No auditors will be permitted. Enrolled students must take the course for a letter grade.