With the Japanese poet Basho, we enter a world, time and aesthetic (17th century Japan) remote from ours My hope is that in studying The Narrow Road To The Deep North and Other Travel Sketches together we can imaginatively enter that world for a brief time – perhaps as brief as one of the haiku. That would be perfect, and fitting, for much of what Basho is “about” is imperfection, the fleeting nature of all things, in the small and the large worlds.
 

CLASS READINGS/DISCUSSIONS

I would like to go through the works carefully with you, so let’s try this schedule:

Friday, March 26:”The Records of A Weather-Exposed Skeleton” and “A Visit to Kashima Shrine” 51-70

Monday, March 29: “The Records of a Travel-Worn Satchel”, 71-90; “A Visit to Sarasina Village”, 91-5

Wednesday, March 31: “The Narrow Road To the Deep North” pps. 97-119

Friday, April 2: “The narrow Road To The Deep North”, 120-43

BASHO Writing Assignment for Friday, 4/2:

We’ve reached the end – but hopefully it is just the beginning – of our study of Basho’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches. Take some time in class, and write on what your understanding of haiku is now, after our study and discussions together. What do you know about it? What are its characteristics, it qualities?

Please choose a haiku or two from Basho’s writings to illustrate your description/answer.