Russian Literature 2
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
This course represents the second stage of a three-year programme aimed at introducing students to the historical evolution and the main phenomena and authors of Russian literature from the 18th to the 20th century. It deals in particular with Russian literature of the second half of the nineteenth century and therefore includes world-renowned authors such as Ivan Turgenev, Fedor Dostoevskij, Lev Tolstoj and others, to one or more of whom each year a part of the course is dedicated. Addressing students who are also in the middle of the learning path of the Russian language, it presents in the original language significant excerpts in verse and prose and introduces the students to the analysis of the artistic text.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: outline of the history of Russia in the second half of the nineteenth century and of the relationship between social and literary dynamics in the light of the particular country's situation. Main authors and literary movements; evolution or the novel; basic elements of Russian metrics, with reference to the authors of the first and second half of the nineteenth century.
Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to read and contextualize fundamental works of Nineteenth century Russian literature in Italian. Reading passages of texts examined during the course in Russian. Understanding of historical, cultural, and social implications of literary texts; ability to place authors, movements and works in their context; ability to recognise and explain each author's literary themes and strategies; recognize the most elementary forms of versification and rhetorical figures and explain the effects on the meaning of a poetic text.
Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to read and contextualize fundamental works of Nineteenth century Russian literature in Italian. Reading passages of texts examined during the course in Russian. Understanding of historical, cultural, and social implications of literary texts; ability to place authors, movements and works in their context; ability to recognise and explain each author's literary themes and strategies; recognize the most elementary forms of versification and rhetorical figures and explain the effects on the meaning of a poetic text.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
The course is titled: "A 'Kingdom of Darkness'? Russian literature of the second half of the nineteenth century and the merchant class" and is made up of the following three teaching units: A. Russian literature of the years 1850-60 and the world of merchants: a 'kingdom of darkness or the heart of 'popular truth'? B. The dichotomies of Fëdor Dostoevskij's "The Idiot" in the context of contemporary society C. The language of tradition and passion: linguistic and stylistic analysis of Russian texts in verse and prose. The first two units will be addressed in sequence in the first two lessons of the week, while the third will be held parallel to them in the last one.
In Unit A, after some introductory lessons on the history of Russia and Russian literature of the second half of the nineteenth century, some literary works by Aleksandr Ostrovsky and Nikolaj Leskov, set in the social class of merchants where difficult moral conflicts see original female figures as protagonists will be examined. In Unit B, the novel by F. Dostoevsky "The Idiot" will be examined, highlighting both the spiritual and moral point of view as well as the ideological and social context. Unit C will deal with poetic texts from the entire nineteenth century and significant passages of the analyzed works, in the original language.
As a rule the course program is valid until February 2021. Attending and non-attending students are always invited to contact the teacher for further information.
The course is titled: "A 'Kingdom of Darkness'? Russian literature of the second half of the nineteenth century and the merchant class" and is made up of the following three teaching units: A. Russian literature of the years 1850-60 and the world of merchants: a 'kingdom of darkness or the heart of 'popular truth'? B. The dichotomies of Fëdor Dostoevskij's "The Idiot" in the context of contemporary society C. The language of tradition and passion: linguistic and stylistic analysis of Russian texts in verse and prose. The first two units will be addressed in sequence in the first two lessons of the week, while the third will be held parallel to them in the last one.
In Unit A, after some introductory lessons on the history of Russia and Russian literature of the second half of the nineteenth century, some literary works by Aleksandr Ostrovsky and Nikolaj Leskov, set in the social class of merchants where difficult moral conflicts see original female figures as protagonists will be examined. In Unit B, the novel by F. Dostoevsky "The Idiot" will be examined, highlighting both the spiritual and moral point of view as well as the ideological and social context. Unit C will deal with poetic texts from the entire nineteenth century and significant passages of the analyzed works, in the original language.
As a rule the course program is valid until February 2021. Attending and non-attending students are always invited to contact the teacher for further information.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, held in Italian with reading and commentary of literary texts (poetry and prose) in Russian, and the exam materials and bibliography are intended for students with skills in Russian Language and history of Russian literature, gained during the previous year courses of Russian language and literature.
[Students who do not know Russian will not always find Italian translations of the literary texts; therefore, if interested in the course, they must contact the teacher in advance to agree on adaptations of the program]
[Students who do not know Russian will not always find Italian translations of the literary texts; therefore, if interested in the course, they must contact the teacher in advance to agree on adaptations of the program]
Teaching methods
The course follows these teaching methods: class lessons; reading and explaining passages from the works in the program; possible presentations of individual readings made by students.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the Ariel online teaching platform (https://lrossilr2.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx) to which you are referred for the materials provided by the teacher as specified below.
Teaching units A, B, C
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature: "Storia della civiltà letteraria russa", a c. di M. Colucci, R. Picchio, vol. 1, Torino, Utet, 1997, pp. 527-528, 530-570, 573-597, 602-603, 608-618, 628-637, pp. 654-721 (parts relating to the period covered, that is from 1855 to 1880, downloadable from the course website) or other texbook in English or Russian to be agreed; 2) Textbook for the study of the history of Russia: N. V. Riasanovsky, "A History of Russia, Oxford U.P. (parts relating to the period covered, that is from 1855 to 1880); 3) compulsory critical text: M. Bakhtin, Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics, University of Minnesota 1984 https://monoskop.org/images/1/1d/Bakhtin_Mikhail_Problems_of_Dostoevskys_Poetics_1984.pdf (ch. 2-5 with particular attention to Russian literature and to the works of Dostoevskij object of the course and possibly read by the student) or original Russian version; 4) Literary texts relating to the general part: (At least) a novel or collection of short stories in the original Russian or other translation, chosen from: Iv. Turgenev, "Sketches from a Hunter's Album", "Home of the Gentry", "Fathers and Sons", Iv. Goncharov, "Oblomov", F. Dostoevsky, "Crime and Punishment", "Demons", "The Karamazov Brothers", L. Tolstoy, "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", N. Leskov, "The Cathedral Folk", M. Saltykov-Shchedrin, "The Golovlyov Family", or others to be agreed. 5) Compulsory literary texts relating to the specific part: Al. Ostrovsky, "The Sorm", N. Leskov, "Lady Macbeth of Mcensk", F. Dostoevsky, "The Idiot"; 6) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform; 7) Power point presentations used in class during the lectures downloadable from the Ariel platform; 8) other fragments of literary and critical texts mentioned during the lessons (downloadable ,from the Ariel platform).
9) Non-attending students are invited to prepare if possible more than one literary text of their choice; to all the materials listed above they will add a monograph to choose from: a) M. C. Ghidini, "Dostoevskij", Roma, Salerno, 2017 (choice of chapters to be agreed); b) R. Faggionato, "L'alambicco di Lev Tolstoj. «Guerra e pace» e la massoneria russa", Roma, Viella, 2015 (choice of chapters to be agreed); other in any language to be agreed. Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher, well before the exam.
Teaching units A, B, C
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature: "Storia della civiltà letteraria russa", a c. di M. Colucci, R. Picchio, vol. 1, Torino, Utet, 1997, pp. 527-528, 530-570, 573-597, 602-603, 608-618, 628-637, pp. 654-721 (parts relating to the period covered, that is from 1855 to 1880, downloadable from the course website) or other texbook in English or Russian to be agreed; 2) Textbook for the study of the history of Russia: N. V. Riasanovsky, "A History of Russia, Oxford U.P. (parts relating to the period covered, that is from 1855 to 1880); 3) compulsory critical text: M. Bakhtin, Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics, University of Minnesota 1984 https://monoskop.org/images/1/1d/Bakhtin_Mikhail_Problems_of_Dostoevskys_Poetics_1984.pdf (ch. 2-5 with particular attention to Russian literature and to the works of Dostoevskij object of the course and possibly read by the student) or original Russian version; 4) Literary texts relating to the general part: (At least) a novel or collection of short stories in the original Russian or other translation, chosen from: Iv. Turgenev, "Sketches from a Hunter's Album", "Home of the Gentry", "Fathers and Sons", Iv. Goncharov, "Oblomov", F. Dostoevsky, "Crime and Punishment", "Demons", "The Karamazov Brothers", L. Tolstoy, "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", N. Leskov, "The Cathedral Folk", M. Saltykov-Shchedrin, "The Golovlyov Family", or others to be agreed. 5) Compulsory literary texts relating to the specific part: Al. Ostrovsky, "The Sorm", N. Leskov, "Lady Macbeth of Mcensk", F. Dostoevsky, "The Idiot"; 6) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform; 7) Power point presentations used in class during the lectures downloadable from the Ariel platform; 8) other fragments of literary and critical texts mentioned during the lessons (downloadable ,from the Ariel platform).
9) Non-attending students are invited to prepare if possible more than one literary text of their choice; to all the materials listed above they will add a monograph to choose from: a) M. C. Ghidini, "Dostoevskij", Roma, Salerno, 2017 (choice of chapters to be agreed); b) R. Faggionato, "L'alambicco di Lev Tolstoj. «Guerra e pace» e la massoneria russa", Roma, Viella, 2015 (choice of chapters to be agreed); other in any language to be agreed. Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher, well before the exam.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between teacher and student and reading in the original language, translation and commentary of one or more short excerpts from the works scheduled. The interview lasts about 20-30 minutes. It aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the ability of expression, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the ability to critically and personally reflect on the issues proposed.
The final mark is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to reject it (in this case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly contact the teacher.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
The final mark is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to reject it (in this case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly contact the teacher.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
From 12th February 2025 in my room, or on Teams (Generale - Ricevimento studenti e laureandi prof. Laura Rossi <[email protected]>) on Wednesdays: 2 - 5 p.m. (Check my ARIEL pages for any temporary changes).
Piazza S. Alessandro, 1, Slavistics department, 2nd floor, office