Russian 253 - Dreamers,Drunkards,and the Women Who Endured Them:19th-Century Russian Literature

Institution:

Colgate University

Subject:

Description:

I. Helfant Written largely by an educated elite, eerily self-conscious because of czarist censorship and political repression, Russian literature of the 19th century nevertheless confronts many of the crucial concerns of human existence. In this course, students read a combination of short stories and novels, concentrating upon the canonical "greats" (Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov) but also adding a sampling of writers one might otherwise never encounter, including neglected female authors. By examining literary depictions of such social institutions as dueling and gambling, courtship and marriage, adultery and spousal abuse, work and leisure, the course emphasizes the relationship between literary text and cultural context. Particular attention is paid to the cultural construction of gender, as well as the relationship between humans and nature. A range of theoretical and critical texts informs discussions, as do film adaptations of certain works. All works are read in translation, but a FLAC section of the course may be offered for advanced Russian language students, with a primary emphasis on the development of advanced language skills.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.colgate.edu

Phone Number:

(315) 228-1000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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