100年第2學期-0180 文討：間諜小說 課程資訊

教育目標

1. Be able to identify key writers and their significant contributions to this genre by learning about their styles, themes, individual expressions, and their importance to the literary legacy of spy fiction. They will demonstrate this ability in presentations, in written work and in discussion. 2. Be able to recognize and understand the various ways in which writers in this genre have explored notable forms of characterization, plot development, dialog, subjectivity, political rhetoric and ideology within their writings in the English language, while engaging in creative literary ventures. Selections will include novels, short fiction and a film. They will demonstrate this ability in presentations, in written work and in discussion. 3. Students will gain an understanding of and form a critical evaluation of the imaginative and persuasive strategies of the various writers under consideration, respective of actual historical events, ethical issues and political positions. They will demonstrate this ability in presentation, in written work and in discussion. 4. Students will gain understanding of and be able to comprehend the relationship between literature and its social and cultural context relative to the themes these writers treat, most especially as these reflect the various social conflicts and attitude shifts of their respective periods. They will demonstrate this ability in presentations, in written work and in discussion.

課程概述

Spy fiction is an intriguing and complex genre that has evolved from the novel, with a historical relationship to both adventure stories and political critiques. Spy fiction has by now established a well-known legacy within Western literature, including received classic works by James Fennimore Cooper (The Spy), Joseph Conrad (The Secret Agent) and John Buchan (The Thirty-nine Steps). The genre also features popular fictions ranging from Ian Fleming’s famous James Bond series, to the novels of John Le Carré, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Certain significant works are critical of the spy game itself, such as Graham Greene’s The Quiet American and Don DeLillo’s (Libra). Short fiction also has its famous spy tales, such as Jorge Borges’ “The Garden of Forking Paths,” and much popular spy fiction has also inspired film and television spin-offs, more recently the Jason Bourne films based on Robert Ludlum’s enigmatic figure. The spy is a compelling and romantic adventurer, possessed of extraordinary cunning and intelligence, physical prowess and unique skills. He or she might also be cast as a villain, the infamous “double agent.” This course will examine the styles, themes, discourse, ideology, cultural background and language of spy fictions, with an emphasis on how and why the spy continues to intrigue the cultural imagination all over the world.