Russian Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
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: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The title of the course is: "Russia Abroad: Cultural Dynamics and Artistic Legacy of the First Wave of Russian Emigration (1917-1930)." It is divided into three parts.
1: Names, Voices, Generations, Places, and Literary Institutions of "Russia Abroad."
2: Literary and Cultural Dynamics of the 1920s.
3: Literary and Cultural Dynamics of the 1930s.
A hundred years after the first "Congress of Russia Abroad" (April 4-11, 1926), and amid an anomalous "fourth wave," we propose to present the centers (Berlin, Paris, but also several Italian cities) and the most well-known authors (philosophers, poets, and prose writers) of the first wave of migration that led to the creation of a true "Russia Abroad."
After outlining the geography and communication methods of the various Russian communities across the border in the first part, using tools (including online) developed by recent research and firsthand accounts, the following two parts will present writers and thinkers from three successive generations, from those born in the 1860s and already fully formed in their homeland, such as Vyacheslav Ivanov and Zinaida Gippius, to those who reached maturity abroad, such as Khodasevich and Bunin, to those whose literary career took place (almost) entirely abroad, such as Vladimir Nabokov, Boris Poplavsky, and Gaito Gazdanov.
From an existential perspective, we will explore the premises behind the choice (autonomous or forced) to leave Russia and, in some cases, to return (Viktor Shklovsky, Marina Tsvetaeva). From an artistic perspective, we will examine tragic memoirs (Remizov, Shmelev), as well as comic sketches (Teffi, Don Aminado, Averchenko), lyric poems, and experimental novels (Georgij Ivanov, Nabokov). From an ideological perspective, we will consider theoretical elaborations destined, for better or worse, to have a long future (Frank, Ilyin).
The course provides 9 ETS. Those who wish to acquire only 6 ETS can choose 2 of the 3 parts.
The course program is generally valid until September 2027 for students who attended the course or agreed to the program as non-attending students within the current academic year. Normally, the program can no longer be chosen by non-attending students after the start of the new course.
1: Names, Voices, Generations, Places, and Literary Institutions of "Russia Abroad."
2: Literary and Cultural Dynamics of the 1920s.
3: Literary and Cultural Dynamics of the 1930s.
A hundred years after the first "Congress of Russia Abroad" (April 4-11, 1926), and amid an anomalous "fourth wave," we propose to present the centers (Berlin, Paris, but also several Italian cities) and the most well-known authors (philosophers, poets, and prose writers) of the first wave of migration that led to the creation of a true "Russia Abroad."
After outlining the geography and communication methods of the various Russian communities across the border in the first part, using tools (including online) developed by recent research and firsthand accounts, the following two parts will present writers and thinkers from three successive generations, from those born in the 1860s and already fully formed in their homeland, such as Vyacheslav Ivanov and Zinaida Gippius, to those who reached maturity abroad, such as Khodasevich and Bunin, to those whose literary career took place (almost) entirely abroad, such as Vladimir Nabokov, Boris Poplavsky, and Gaito Gazdanov.
From an existential perspective, we will explore the premises behind the choice (autonomous or forced) to leave Russia and, in some cases, to return (Viktor Shklovsky, Marina Tsvetaeva). From an artistic perspective, we will examine tragic memoirs (Remizov, Shmelev), as well as comic sketches (Teffi, Don Aminado, Averchenko), lyric poems, and experimental novels (Georgij Ivanov, Nabokov). From an ideological perspective, we will consider theoretical elaborations destined, for better or worse, to have a long future (Frank, Ilyin).
The course provides 9 ETS. Those who wish to acquire only 6 ETS can choose 2 of the 3 parts.
The course program is generally valid until September 2027 for students who attended the course or agreed to the program as non-attending students within the current academic year. Normally, the program can no longer be chosen by non-attending students after the start of the new course.
Prerequisites for admission
The course will be held in Italian (if possible, partially in Russian) with readings in Russian. The syllabus presupposes solid knowledge of the Russian language, literary history, and critical terminology. Therefore, it is suitable only for students who have already completed a three-year course with Russian as an A or B language. It is highly recommended to attend the lectures regularly and participate in the common work.
Teaching methods
The course employs the following teaching methods: class lectures, reading, analysis and contextualization of passages taken from the works on the syllabus, and individual presentations made by students.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the MyAriel online teaching platform, to which reference is made for a more complete and for the final version of the syllabus (immediately before, during and at the end of the course).
Literary works:
· Russian excerpts from various authors discussed in class (on ARIEL)
· One or more complete literary works to be selected and read for the final study in Italian or Russian from a list that will be specified later.
Mandatory critical texts:
· Oleg Budnickij. Ėmigracija iz Rossii (XVI-XX vv.): istoričeckaja spravka. In: Oleg Budnickij. Drugaja Rossija: Issledovanija po istorii russkoj ėmigracii. Moskva: Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie, 2021. P. 12-45.
· Marc Raeff. Russia abroad: A cultural history of the Russian emigration, 1919-1939. New York; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990.
· Gleb Struve, Russkaja literatura v izgnanii, Moskva-Pariž, 1996. third Russian edition enriched with a biographical dictionary (1996), to be used for general consultation, dates etc. and possibly as one of the possible sources for further information on individual authors (on ARIEL)
Specific essays in Italian, English or Russian (list and text on ARIEL or to be found individually) on individual authors taken into consideration during the course and/or to be used for the final study
· PPP prepared by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform starting from the day of the lecture.
The program for "non-attending" students is the same as that for attending students but the final work will be presented individually in written form after agreement with the teacher.
Literary works:
· Russian excerpts from various authors discussed in class (on ARIEL)
· One or more complete literary works to be selected and read for the final study in Italian or Russian from a list that will be specified later.
Mandatory critical texts:
· Oleg Budnickij. Ėmigracija iz Rossii (XVI-XX vv.): istoričeckaja spravka. In: Oleg Budnickij. Drugaja Rossija: Issledovanija po istorii russkoj ėmigracii. Moskva: Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie, 2021. P. 12-45.
· Marc Raeff. Russia abroad: A cultural history of the Russian emigration, 1919-1939. New York; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990.
· Gleb Struve, Russkaja literatura v izgnanii, Moskva-Pariž, 1996. third Russian edition enriched with a biographical dictionary (1996), to be used for general consultation, dates etc. and possibly as one of the possible sources for further information on individual authors (on ARIEL)
Specific essays in Italian, English or Russian (list and text on ARIEL or to be found individually) on individual authors taken into consideration during the course and/or to be used for the final study
· PPP prepared by the teacher, available on the Ariel platform starting from the day of the lecture.
The program for "non-attending" students is the same as that for attending students but the final work will be presented individually in written form after agreement with the teacher.
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 with reference to literary and critical texts read by the student.
The final assessment will include an essay (PPP) on an author or work, based on a bibliography agreed upon with the teacher. This work is mandatory for both 6 and 9 credits and will be presented in class in the last weeks of the course. The work may be completed individually or in pairs.
The interview lasts about 20 minutes. It aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualise 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 upon with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
The final assessment will include an essay (PPP) on an author or work, based on a bibliography agreed upon with the teacher. This work is mandatory for both 6 and 9 credits and will be presented in class in the last weeks of the course. The work may be completed individually or in pairs.
The interview lasts about 20 minutes. It aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualise 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 upon with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part 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