「文學概論」作為所有中文系學生進入文學世界的必修入門課，自然有著一種敲磚石的意義：希望透過這樣的一門課程，讓同學們初步理解什麼是文學，以及除了做一個純粹的愉快讀者之外，我們還有什麼其他方法得以洞察藏在各個文本中細微又豐富的密碼。

讓同學理解「文學是什麼」---這樣一個寬泛的教學目標其實是不容易達成的。其中的困難包括：如果文學是一門大學問，我們又如何可能透過「概論」的方式將它說清楚？至於從娛樂性的閱讀轉往嚴肅性的閱讀，會不會反而破壞了我們當初喜歡文學的單純熱情？

事實上，「文學是什麼」應該是中文系同學進入到這個系之後，最先對自己提出的一個問題；而你將透過未來的四年，甚至是一輩子來回答這個提問：文學是什麼，文學之於你「自己」的意義又是什麼。唯有閱讀了更多更多的作品，同時積累更多的人生經驗，你才可能慢慢地對於這個問題有一點兒屬於自己的想法；也可能隨著你生命經歷的變化，視野的改變，每個人生階段你回答這個問題的方式都不盡相同。而這個持續不斷的探索、思考的過程，就像是在文學世界裡經驗著一場又一場的華麗冒險。而此刻，旅行即將開始。

"Introduction to Literature" is a compulsory introductory course for all Chinese students to enter the world of literature. It naturally has a stepping stone meaning: it is hoped that through such a course, students can have a preliminary understanding of what literature is, and besides being a purely happy reader, what other methods can we have to gain insight into the subtle and rich codes hidden in each text.

Let students understand "what literature is" - such a broad teaching goal is actually not easy to achieve. The difficulties include: If literature is a university subject, how can we explain it clearly through an "introduction"? As for switching from entertainment reading to serious reading, will it destroy our original pure enthusiasm for literature?

In fact, "What is literature?" should be the first question that Chinese Department students ask themselves after entering this department; and you will spend the next four years, or even your whole life, answering this question: what is literature, and what is the meaning of literature to "yourself". Only by reading more works and accumulating more life experience can you slowly come up with your own thoughts on this question; and maybe as your life experience changes and your vision changes, the way you answer this question will be different in each life stage. And this process of continuous exploration and thinking is like experiencing one gorgeous adventure after another in the literary world. At this moment, the journey is about to begin.

教師自編講義

Teacher's own handouts