Course Objectives: In this course, we will read five novels from the rich tradition of Russian literature in the nineteenth century. Students will gain a basic understanding of the history of Russian literature of the nineteenth century, and detailed analysis will be made of the specific works assigned for the course. The second objective is consideration of the novel as a literary genre. Russian literature of the nineteenth century saw one of the most remarkable periods in the development of the novel, and the Russian novel of this era influenced manifestations of the genre throughout world literature. In considering the works chosen, students will discuss what defines the novel, and in the process they will read, analyze, and critique theoretical discussions and definitions of the novel. Course objectives, parallel to the knowledge gained, will be the development of analytical skills in evaluating artistic expression and the development of expository writing skills.
Course Structure: The course will proceed chronologically. We will begin our study of each author with a brief lecture surveying the relevant literary history and the author's career and then will spend most of our time studying the selected works. Class time will include both lecture and discussion.
Course Requirements:
Graded assignments will include two short papers, a midterm, and a final.
Additional, ungraded essays will also be assigned. These will be
brief (no more than one page) and are to be free-form student reactions
to materials covered in the course. Although these essays will not
be graded, submission is required. For all assignments extensions
without a penalty to a student's grade will be granted only in the case
of severe illness, death in the family, or acute physical or mental trauma.
The professor reserves the right to define "acute trauma."
Class participation is required
since it is difficult to have a discussion without discussants. Attendance
is required. Two absences will not affect your grade; additional
absences will be factored into the class participation grade. Conversely,
students who attend all classes will be considered admirable class participants,
and this will be noted in that portion of their grade. Students who
have not prepared for a class will be considered to be absent. Relevant
questions will also be considered class participation. Irrelevant
questions will incur the wrath of the professor.
Grades will be determined as follows:
Short Papers: 50%
Long Paper: 30%
Class Participation: 20%
Required texts: Pushkin, Eugene
Onegin (trans. Falen)
Lermontov, Hero of Our Time
(trans. Nabokov)
Gogol, Dead Souls
Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
(Norton)
Dostoevskii, Brothers Karamazov
(Vintage)
Students should read only the versions listed here because the tests will be based on these versions. Additional readings will be assigned over the course of the semester.
Disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me immediately.
Using your professor to your best possible advantage: Students are
welcomed and encouraged to submit ideas, comments, and/or questions to
me via e-mail. If you have a topic you would like to be discussed,
please feel free to contact me. Anonymity will be retained upon request.
Please use my office hours to
your advantage. If you would like to see me, but cannot make my office
hours, I will be happy to schedule an alternative time.
Likely the most important use
of your professor will be with written assignments. As every aspiring
undergraduate must learn how to write well, you should use this course
and my services to develop your writing skills. I will gladly discuss
the organization of students' papers and the revision of preliminary drafts.
Also, I will be distributing materials on writing prior to the first essay.
The first three novels are to be read before they appear on the syllabus. Reading schedules for Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov appear below.
9/3 Introduction
9/7 Pushkin, Eugene Onegin
9/10
9/14
9/17
9/21 No Class: Brandeis Monday
9/24 Lermontov, Hero of Our Time
9/28
10/1 First paper due
10/5 Gogol, Dead Souls
10/8
10/12
10/15
10/19
10/22 Tolstoy, Anna Karenina First half of AK due
10/26
10/29
11/2 All AK due
11/5 Second paper due
11/9
11/12 Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov First half of BK due
11/16
11/19
11/23
11/26 No Class: Thanksgiving
11/30 Part III (Book 9) of BK due
12/3 All BK due
12/7 Third paper due
Finals week: Final paper due