Russian Literature (MA)
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
This course is designed for students who have followed a three-year cycle of Russian literature and completed three-year Russian language learning. It can be part of a monolingual or bilingual specialization course but can also be chosen for two years in a row. For this reason, the topics dealt with each year present a wide variety of topics, historical periods and critical methodologies more specific and complex compared to those addressed during the three-year course The course stimulates the students to study in depth thematic or critical aspects useful to enrich the study path that each one is following.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: deepening of complex and articulated historical-literary, critical and methodological issues. Reading and detailed analysis of literary and critical texts in the original language. Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to apply the critical methodologies learned to texts of individual choice. Identification of aspects related to one's own personal path in the works and critical methodologies presented during the course.
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
Course syllabus
The course is titled "Death and its "abolition" in 19-20th century Russian literature" and is made up of the following three parts: 1. " «How heavy for a dead man Lively and passionate pretend!». The theme of death between Realism and Decadentism"; 2. "«He saw death as one of the regions beneath the sky». The theme of death in Soviet Union literature between Avangard and socialist Realism"; 3. "«Better to know in a few moments both shame and death »: personal death and the death of a Civilization in the literary production of the first wave of Russian Emigration".
The course provides 9 ECTS credits. Students who intend to acquire no more than 6 ECTS will agree with the teacher on a reduced program that includes the essential elements of the three parts.
The course which ideally continues the path started in AY 2021-2022, but is in fact an autonomous complex, aims to investigate an inescapable topic for every human being, which from antiquity to the modern age was at the center of myth, ritual, art, and philosophical reflection. The examination of literary works from the last quarter of the nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century, written under the Tsar regime and then both in Soviet Russia and in Emigration, will be conducted mainly from a structural and narratological point of view but it will also highlight the contribution of Russian writers to the existential reflection of man, and the paradoxical tendency of some authors to overcome or deny the existence of this fatal step.
In the first part, the theoretical and methodological foundations of the course will be laid, and we will consider poetic and narrative texts from the Late Realistic, Decadent, and Symbolist seasons. The second and third parts will examine the same time span, the years 1910-1930, from the point of view of writers living in the Soviet Union, variously conditioned by the vitalist rhetoric of the new regime, and of those to whom the death of the tsarist regime had opened the way to emigration.
As a rule, the course program is valid until and including February 2024. Students are invited to always contact the teacher for further information.
The course provides 9 ECTS credits. Students who intend to acquire no more than 6 ECTS will agree with the teacher on a reduced program that includes the essential elements of the three parts.
The course which ideally continues the path started in AY 2021-2022, but is in fact an autonomous complex, aims to investigate an inescapable topic for every human being, which from antiquity to the modern age was at the center of myth, ritual, art, and philosophical reflection. The examination of literary works from the last quarter of the nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century, written under the Tsar regime and then both in Soviet Russia and in Emigration, will be conducted mainly from a structural and narratological point of view but it will also highlight the contribution of Russian writers to the existential reflection of man, and the paradoxical tendency of some authors to overcome or deny the existence of this fatal step.
In the first part, the theoretical and methodological foundations of the course will be laid, and we will consider poetic and narrative texts from the Late Realistic, Decadent, and Symbolist seasons. The second and third parts will examine the same time span, the years 1910-1930, from the point of view of writers living in the Soviet Union, variously conditioned by the vitalist rhetoric of the new regime, and of those to whom the death of the tsarist regime had opened the way to emigration.
As a rule, the course program is valid until and including February 2024. Students are invited to always contact the teacher for further information.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is in Italian and, if possible (partially) in Russian, with the reading of texts only in Russian. The syllabus presupposes solid knowledge of the Russian language, literary history, and critical terminology. Therefore it is suitable only for the students who have already completed a three-year course with Russian as an A or B language.
Teaching methods
The course follows these teaching methods: class lectures, reading and explaining passages from the works in the syllabus, and possible presentations of individual readings made by students.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the Ariel online teaching platform (https://lrossilrlm.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx) to which you are referred for the materials provided by the teacher as specified below.
Syllabus:
Part 1
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature in English or Russian to be agreed. 2) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform. 3) Theoretical and critical essays in Russian or other languages downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform or available in another form. 5) The notes of the lectures and the PowerPoint presentations by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform during and at the end of the course 6) One or more of the following (or other to be agreed) literary texts, in Russian or other languages: I. Turgenev, "Senilia. Stichotvorenija v proze", Lev Tolstoj, "Smert' Ivana Il'icha"; "O zhizni"; Vs. Garshin, "Krasnyj Cvetok", V. Korolenko, "Son Makara"; A. Cechov, "Smert' cinovnika", "Toska", "Skucnaja istorija", "Duel'", "Archierej"; N. Fedorov, "Filosofija Obscego dela"; F. Sologub, Melkij bes; L. Andreev, "Lazar", "Rasskaz o semi povescennych", I. Bunin, "Gospodin iz San-Francisko", "Legkoe dychanie".
Part 2
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature in English or Russian to be agreed. 2) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform. 3) Theoretical and critical essays in Russian or other languages downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform or available in another form. 4) The notes of the lectures and the power point presentations by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform during and at the end of the course 5) One or more of the following (or other to be agreed) literary texts, in Russian or other languages: K. Fedin, "Goroda i gody", B. Pil'njak, "Povest' o nepogašennoj luny", M. Bulgakov, "Belaja gvardija", "D'javoliada"; L. Leonov, "Vor"; A. Platonov, "Cevengur", "Kotlovan"; D. Charm, "Starucha", M. Bulgakov, "Master i Margarita".
Part 3
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature in English or Russian to be agreed; 2) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform. 3) Theoretical and critical essays in Russian or other languages, downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform or available in another form. 4) The notes of the lectures and the PowerPoint presentations by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform during and at the end of the course; 5) One or more of the following literary texts, in Russian or in translation, or others to be agreed: V. Nabokov, "Korol', dama, valet", Zascita Luzina", "Sogljadataj", "Kamera obskura", "Otcajanie", "Priglasenie na kazn'", "Dar", G. Gazdanov, "Osvobozdenie", "Smert' gospodina Bernara", "Prizrak Aleksandra Wolfa".
The full bibliography of the course will be published during and at the end of the course on the Ariel platform.
At the exam, in addition to demonstrating knowledge of the materials indicated, the students will illustrate in oral or written form the results of an individual written or oral project about one of the authors considered during the course, made on the basis of the full reading in russian or english of his literary work(s) and 2 essays (or a monograph) present in the general bibliography or chosen individually. The introductions or afterwords of the Italian translations should be read but are usually not enough for the individual project.
The program for attending and for non-attending students is the same. The students are invited to consult the teacher in good time.
Syllabus:
Part 1
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature in English or Russian to be agreed. 2) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform. 3) Theoretical and critical essays in Russian or other languages downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform or available in another form. 5) The notes of the lectures and the PowerPoint presentations by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform during and at the end of the course 6) One or more of the following (or other to be agreed) literary texts, in Russian or other languages: I. Turgenev, "Senilia. Stichotvorenija v proze", Lev Tolstoj, "Smert' Ivana Il'icha"; "O zhizni"; Vs. Garshin, "Krasnyj Cvetok", V. Korolenko, "Son Makara"; A. Cechov, "Smert' cinovnika", "Toska", "Skucnaja istorija", "Duel'", "Archierej"; N. Fedorov, "Filosofija Obscego dela"; F. Sologub, Melkij bes; L. Andreev, "Lazar", "Rasskaz o semi povescennych", I. Bunin, "Gospodin iz San-Francisko", "Legkoe dychanie".
Part 2
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature in English or Russian to be agreed. 2) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform. 3) Theoretical and critical essays in Russian or other languages downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform or available in another form. 4) The notes of the lectures and the power point presentations by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform during and at the end of the course 5) One or more of the following (or other to be agreed) literary texts, in Russian or other languages: K. Fedin, "Goroda i gody", B. Pil'njak, "Povest' o nepogašennoj luny", M. Bulgakov, "Belaja gvardija", "D'javoliada"; L. Leonov, "Vor"; A. Platonov, "Cevengur", "Kotlovan"; D. Charm, "Starucha", M. Bulgakov, "Master i Margarita".
Part 3
1) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature in English or Russian to be agreed; 2) Anthology of literary texts in Russian downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform. 3) Theoretical and critical essays in Russian or other languages, downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform or available in another form. 4) The notes of the lectures and the PowerPoint presentations by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform during and at the end of the course; 5) One or more of the following literary texts, in Russian or in translation, or others to be agreed: V. Nabokov, "Korol', dama, valet", Zascita Luzina", "Sogljadataj", "Kamera obskura", "Otcajanie", "Priglasenie na kazn'", "Dar", G. Gazdanov, "Osvobozdenie", "Smert' gospodina Bernara", "Prizrak Aleksandra Wolfa".
The full bibliography of the course will be published during and at the end of the course on the Ariel platform.
At the exam, in addition to demonstrating knowledge of the materials indicated, the students will illustrate in oral or written form the results of an individual written or oral project about one of the authors considered during the course, made on the basis of the full reading in russian or english of his literary work(s) and 2 essays (or a monograph) present in the general bibliography or chosen individually. The introductions or afterwords of the Italian translations should be read but are usually not enough for the individual project.
The program for attending and for non-attending students is the same. The students are invited to consult the teacher in good time.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, in Italian or in Russian, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between teacher and student and discussion of the research prepared by the student with reference to literary and critical texts.
The interview lasts about 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 interview lasts about 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.
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