Russian Literature 3
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course is reserved for third year students and aims to complete the presentation of the literary and cultural history of Russia carried out in the two previous courses. An introduction to Russian history between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century is proposed, with particular attention, on the one hand, to the political context, and on the other to the different artistic currents that animated the Russian cultural scene of the early twentieth century; in a second stage the course offers an in-depth study of single authors and literary works or thematic paths of particular importance.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: The student demonstrates full knowledge of the main facts of Russian social history and Russian literature of the studied period. Skills: The student achieves good proficiency in the analysis of the thematic and formal elements of the literary text and is able to re-elaborate the problems faced during the course and of the critical essays examined.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/2022 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
The course is called "The House and Anti-house in Mikhail Bulgakov's works". It consists of the following three parts: a) Introduction to Russian historical and literary background, from the death of Alexander III to the 1917 revolution b) Introduction to Mikhail Bulgakov's like and works c) The redemption of the House: the history of the composition and the poetics of The Master and Margarita
The course provides 9 CFU, therefore all students will stick to the complete program (parts A, B and C). In Part A we will take into consideration the main stages of Russian history and literature from the 1890s until the civil war. During this part of the course the teacher will provide the basic knowledge, the essential interpretative categories and the methodological tools necessary to encourage the subsequent personal deepening, which remains the student's responsibility. In Part B, Mikhail Bulgakov's life and literary beginnings will be examined. In Part C Bulgakov's masterpiece The Master and Margarita will be examined.
The course provides 9 CFU, therefore all students will stick to the complete program (parts A, B and C). In Part A we will take into consideration the main stages of Russian history and literature from the 1890s until the civil war. During this part of the course the teacher will provide the basic knowledge, the essential interpretative categories and the methodological tools necessary to encourage the subsequent personal deepening, which remains the student's responsibility. In Part B, Mikhail Bulgakov's life and literary beginnings will be examined. In Part C Bulgakov's masterpiece The Master and Margarita will be examined.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held partially in Russian, the materials and the exam bibliography require specific skills in Russian literary history, use of terminology and critical analysis acquired in previous courses.
Teaching methods
During the course the following teaching methods will be employed: frontal lessons; reading and commenting on scenes from the scheduled works; viewing and commenting of audiovisual materials.
Teaching Resources
The course has a site on the Ariel online teaching platform (https://ariel.unimi.it/). Compulsory reading works for each of the teaching units are indicated below.
Part A
Storia della civiltà letteraria russa, a cura di M. Colucci e R. Picchio, UTET, Torino 1997, vol. II (a selection of chapters, available on Ariel)
N. Werth, Storia della Russia del Novecento, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2000 (until the end of the Second World War)
One text among the following ones:
Sologub, Il demone meschino
A. Belyj, Pietroburgo
E. Zamjatin, Noi
B. Pasternak, Il dottor Živago
Furthermore, a selection of poetic texts (available on Ariel).
Part B
All the following texts by M. Bulgakov:
La guardia bianca, Morfina, L'appartamento di Zoja, Cuore di cane
Critical essays:
V. Šklovskij, L'arte come procedimento; Ju. Lotman, La casa ne "Il Maestro e Margherita", trad. Marta Vanin, in eSamizdat, III, 2-3, 2005, pp. 31-36
Part C
M. Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita (possibly, in M. Crepax's translation)
Furthermore, selection of pages from the Russian text of Master i Margarita (available on Ariel)
Other materials (slides, videos) will be available on Ariel.
Program for non-attending students
Non-attending students will stick to the program for attending students, but they will have to choose two texts (not one) from the following list:
Sologub, Il demone meschino
A. Belyj, Pietroburgo
E. Zamjatin, Noi
B. Pasternak, Il dottor Živago
Part A
Storia della civiltà letteraria russa, a cura di M. Colucci e R. Picchio, UTET, Torino 1997, vol. II (a selection of chapters, available on Ariel)
N. Werth, Storia della Russia del Novecento, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2000 (until the end of the Second World War)
One text among the following ones:
Sologub, Il demone meschino
A. Belyj, Pietroburgo
E. Zamjatin, Noi
B. Pasternak, Il dottor Živago
Furthermore, a selection of poetic texts (available on Ariel).
Part B
All the following texts by M. Bulgakov:
La guardia bianca, Morfina, L'appartamento di Zoja, Cuore di cane
Critical essays:
V. Šklovskij, L'arte come procedimento; Ju. Lotman, La casa ne "Il Maestro e Margherita", trad. Marta Vanin, in eSamizdat, III, 2-3, 2005, pp. 31-36
Part C
M. Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita (possibly, in M. Crepax's translation)
Furthermore, selection of pages from the Russian text of Master i Margarita (available on Ariel)
Other materials (slides, videos) will be available on Ariel.
Program for non-attending students
Non-attending students will stick to the program for attending students, but they will have to choose two texts (not one) from the following list:
Sologub, Il demone meschino
A. Belyj, Pietroburgo
E. Zamjatin, Noi
B. Pasternak, Il dottor Živago
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts taken from the works scheduled. The interview has a variable duration and takes place in Italian. Students will also have to demonstrate that they can read the analyzed pages of Master i Margarita correctly in Russian. The interview aims to check the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works and to use 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 refuse 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, according to the competent Office.
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, according to 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)