Course Description
The cultural context, lives, and works of nineteenth-century Russia's greatest novelists. Close reading of two panoramic masterpieces, "War and Peace" and "The Idiot," interspersed with selected autobiographical writings and short stories. All readings and discussion in English. Film adaptations with English subtitles.
Athena Title
TOLSTOY AND DOSTOEV
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in RUSS 4090
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The course will address the following: methodologies of close readings; the biographical approach to literary studies; nineteenth-century historical events in Russia as they influence private and literary life; reactions to censorship; "iurodstvo" [holy foolishness]; the folklore and literary heritage of Moscow and Saint Petersburg; theories of the novel and of autobiography; the influence of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky in world literature; Tolstoyanism, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King; film adaptations of literary works. Students will develop skills in discussion, argumentation, and formal writing. Regular assigned readings and class participation, five brief, informal written responses to readings, three short formal essays(3-4 pages), and a class presentation leading to a longer final research paper (8-10 pages).
Topical Outline
"War and Peace," Volume I "The Idiot," Part I "Poor Folk" "White Nights" "Childhood. Boyhood. Youth." "War and Peace," Volume II "The Idiot," Part II "Notes from the House of the Dead" "Three Deaths" "War and Peace," Volume III "The Idiot," Part III "Notes from Underground" "A Confession" "War and Peace," Volume IV "The Idiot," Part IV "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" "The Death of Ivan Ilych" "War and Peace," Epilogue "The Kreutzer Sonata" "The Kingdom of God is Within You"
Syllabus