Davidson Russian Courses RUS260	Search • Contact Us

Required Texts

• F. M. Dostoevsky. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Pevear & Volokhonsky. New York: Vintage, 1993.
• N. V. Gogol. Dead Souls. Trans. Pevear & Volokhonsky. New York: Vintage, 1997.
• A. S. Pushkin. Eugene Onegin. Trans. James Falen. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008.
• L. N. Tolstoy. War & Peace. Trans. Pevear & Volokhonsky. New York: Vintage, 2008.

*To avoid confusion in class when referring to specific passages, please be sure to purchase these editions. .

• Other recommended readings

Course Goals and Overview

In the early nineteenth century Russian critics lamented the lack of a true national literature when, suddenly (and seemingly out of nowhere), Russian writers emerged and startled the world with the beauty and philosophical depth of their art. In a period of just fifty years, from about the 1820s-1870s, Russian authors offered a stunning array of poetry and novels that continue to be counted as masterpieces not only in Russia but throughout the world. In this course you have a unique opportunity to read these classic texts of world literature with a sensitivity to the specifically Russian context that produced them. From Russia’s national poet, Alexander Pushkin, to the giants of Russian realism, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, we will explore the development of the Russian novel in the nineteenth century, concentrating on issues of style and genre as well as the major social issues that haunt their work: serfdom, the woman question, censorship, Russia’s relationship with the West, religion vs. scientific progress, and the Russian writer’s role as prophet of truth in a land of autocracy.

All readings and discussion will be in English, but students who have studied in Russia will be asked to read a portion of each text in the original and to meet for occasional discussions of the Russian texts.

Required Work

• 2-hour take-home midterm (essay questions/short answer/Ids)
• 8-10 page final paper
• Occasional short writing assignments (in class or as email discussion thread)

Course Policies

Attendance: Each students may take 2 "free" absences during the semester. Additional absences will negatively affect your final grade.

Participation: Daily participation is expected and you will be evaluated in accordance with your level of preparation (how carefully you read, did you take notes, come in with questions) and participation in class discussion. Quality will be valued over quantity.

Honor Code: All work must be pledged! You are encouraged to discuss readings with fellow students, but you should not collaborate on specific written assignments. Remember to cite all primary and secondary sources (including URLs) and give proper credit for any borrowed ideas. Please come see me if you have any questions about plagiarism or how to document your research.

Disabilities: If you have a documented disability on record at Davidson and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me as soon as possible at the beginning of the semester.

Evaluation

Schedule