Intended primarily for freshmen and sophomores (but others most welcome!), this course is offered without prerequisite. Knowledge of the Russian language is not required. There are three main objectives: (1) to present elementary concepts about literature and the study of literature; (2) to provide an opportunity to apply these concepts to a selection of literary works; (3) to offer a general introduction to Russian literature prior to the Soviet period and to become familiar with some of the main 19th-century figures within that literature and with a few of their briefer works.
Since the course consists mainly of lectures and discussions, regular attendance is highly desirable. Students are responsible for all the material covered in lectures and for the required readings, which are relatively few in number. Active participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged and will form part of the basis on which the course grade is determined. Examination questions on the required readings will reflect quite closely our discussions in class. Demonstrated acquaintance with the readings, in the form of accurate reference to particular details in the text, is highly valued on test papers.
One of the purposes of this class is the development of the ability to write clearly about literary subjects. To that end, two brief essays on topics set by the instructor will be required. These will be submitted initially as drafts for comment by the instructor. Students will revise their essays in the light of the instructor's comments and submit their revisions for grade.
There will be mid-term and final written examinations. These will be of mixed type, containing both short-answer and essay questions.
Your course grade will be computed as follows:
Essays 30%
Mid-term exam 20%
Final exam 30%
Recitation 20%
2-4 September Introductory considerations: What Is Literature?
9-11 September Introductory considerations: What Is Literature?
16-18 September Introductory considerations: The Study of Literature
23-25 September Introductory Considerations: Library Resources for the study of Russian Literature, The Study of Literature--Concluded
30 September-2 October N. Gogol's "The Nose"; Overview of Russian literary history
7-9 October Overview of Russian literary history
14-16 October Overview of Russian literary history and Russian views of literature
21-23 October Russian views of literature
28-30 October Review; Mid-term examination
4-6 November A. Pushkin's "The Stationmaster" [essay due on November 11th]
11-13 November A. Chekhov's "Man in a Case" [essay due on November 18th]
18-20 November I. Turgenev's "The Singers" [essay due on November 25th]
25 November L. Tolstoy's "God Sees the Truth, but Waits"
27 November Thanksgiving Holiday, Class excused
2 December L. Tolstoy's "God Sees the Truth, but Waits" [essay due on December 9th]
4 December F. Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground
9-11 December F. Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground
10:30am-12:30pm Tuesday, December 16, Final Examination
Note: All readings are to be completed prior to the date assigned for their discussion. Each student must write two essays. The essays are due at the beginning of class on the day shown. You will be allowed to re-write your essays in the light of suggestions received. I am particularly interested in noting improvement in your writing skills over the course of the quarter.
Each of you must write on two of the following four topics. Your essays are to be handed in at the beginning of class on the dates shown. Late essays will not be accepted; if you are unable to hand in your essay in person, mail it to me. If you wish, you will be allowed to resubmit a re-written version of your essay in an effort to improve your grade.
Each essay is to be between 3 and 6 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, on 8 1/2" x 11" paper, and with margins of 1.5" on all four sides. Alternatively, you may submit your essay via e-mail (text format only, NO ATTACHMENTS) to gjahn@umn.edu.
Here are the topics:
(Due on November 11th) "Pushkin's The Stationmaster as a Story about Stories"
(Due on November 18th) "The Presentation of Belikov as a Psychological Portrait in Chekhov's Man in a Shell"
(Due on November 25th) "Symbolism and Levels of Meaning in Turgenev's The Singers"
(Due on December 9th) "Symmetry of Structure in Tolstoy's God Sees the Truth, but Waits"
The mid-term examination for Russian 1304 will be given on October 30th. This exam will contain three parts: the first will present several names (e.g., Karamzin), terms (e.g., Formalism), and/or titles (e.g., War and Peace) which you will be required to identify concisely, within the context of Russian literary history or Russian views of literature; the second part will ask you to write out brief answers (one or two paragraphs) to some questions concerning the nature and/or the study of literature; the third part of the exam will require you to write an extended (4-6 handwritten pages) essay on a topic pertaining to Gogol's "The Nose." Here is a sample exam from a previous year.
Russian 1304
Mid-Term Examination
Directions: There are three parts to the test. Follow the directions for each part.
I. Identification: Identify each of the following briefly, but in a manner relevant to our course of study.
1. "Ode on the Taking of Khotin"
2. Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin
3. Soviet Literature
4. Hagiography
5. V. G. Belinsky
II. Write a paragraph or two with respect to each of the following:
1. You will remember that Peter the Great (ruled roughly 1696-1725) exerted an important influence on Russian culture generally. What in particular was the influence exerted by him with respect to the development of Russian literature?
2. How much importance would you assign to the opinion of the author of a work for purposes of a general literary discussion of that work? Why?
3. Sometimes it is said that the proper focus of literary discussion is the work itself, and nothing but the work. What do you think of this position? Why?
4. Do you think it would be possible to determine whether Pushkin or Karamzin is the greater writer? Why or why not? Do you think it is possible to make ANY defensible judgement about the relative quality of superficially similar literary works?
III. Write an extended essay on the following topic:
Gogol's "The Nose" is a story that can be read from a number of different points of view. Pick one such approach, outline the terms of this approach, and discuss Gogol's story in terms of it. Conclude by making a brief list of those elements in the story which you think are NOT well explained by the approach you have selected.