Fall 2007

REE 325 • Russian Short Stories-W

Course Description

In this course we will explore the wealth of Russian nineteenth-century literature through a series of shorter works which present the classic authors in their most concentrated form. The range is enormous: stories of penetrating psychological and philosophical analysis, tales of human pathos and social satire, pastoral visions, great love stories, war reportage, annals of carnal vice and religious exaltation. We begin with the best of Russian romantic fiction, move on to the world of realistic narrative and finally to the highly stylized or delicately suggestive works of the Russian fin-de-siècle. Previously taught at 19th Century Russian Short Stories-W. 19th Century Russian Short Stories-W and Russian Short Stories-W may not both be counted for credit.

Grading Policy

Essays: 60% Exams: 40% Extra credit for active class participation.

Texts

Pushkin "The Queen of Spades," Tales of Belkin. Gogol Dikanka stories, Mirgorod (selected stories). Petersburg Tales (selected stories). Turgenev Sportsman's Sketches (selected stories). First Love, The Song of Triumphant Love. Dostoevsky A Gentle Creature, utopian myths. Tolstoi The Sevastopol Stories. The Death of Ivan Ilich, After the Ball. Leskov The Sealed Angel ,Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Chekhov Ward Six and other stories.

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