BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Through the reading and analysis of significant works, the course aims to improve students' critical understanding of the main themes, genres and styles of Russian and Soviet literature.
The course also aims to:
- explore the relationships between literature and the historical, social and cultural context in which it developed, highlighting the challenges and tensions that characterized its expression between tradition and modernity.
- help students improve their critical and interpretative skills.
During the course, students will be involved in discussions. They will prepare papers or power point presentations in order to deepen their understanding of the topics covered and practice expressing their opinions with clarity and coherence.
Course Prerequisites
Russian studies students must have passed the Russian Language I examination and have sufficient knowledge of Russian language to understand quotations from the original texts of the authors analyzed.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, pair work, team work. Students’ direct participation in the discussion or presentations are highly welcome. Students are required to prepare a presentation on a specific topic.
Assessment Methods
The examination consists of:
- A written paper (of 5 pages maximum) on a text or topic of the students' choice, related to the course topic. The paper must be original and include a scientific bibliography of the works consulted.
- An oral presentation (10-15 minutes in Russian language) in which students must present the content and conclusions of the paper, also illustrating the sources and method. The presentation should be clear, effective and engaging.
- An oral examination that will focus on the readings and notes of the two semesters. The examination consists of a series of open-ended questions, which require you to demonstrate your mastery of the texts and your ability to analyse and make connections.
The final assessment will be determined by the sum of the following criteria:
- Paper/PP presentation: 30%
- Final examination: 70%
Contents
Family Stories
We explore representations of families and family relationships in Russian literature, analysing how these themes reflect the social, cultural and moral transformations of Russia between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Programme and Main Themes
Introduction to Russian literature and historical context
Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries
Recurring themes in Russian literature: family, morality, identity
Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoy (1878)
Analysis of the family as an institution and as a space of conflict
Personal tragedy and family dynamics
Social and moral critique through the relationship between characters
The Brothers Karamazov by Fedor Dostoevsky (1881)
The family as a microcosm of Russian society
Themes of faith, guilt and redemption
The father figure and the relationship between brothers
Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago (1957)
The family in the context of revolutions and historical changes
The search for a sense of belonging and personal identity
The relationship between love, family and revolution
Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate (1959, published in 1980)
The family under totalitarianism and war
Family and human solidarity in times of crisis
The representation of moral resistance
The course is 9 cfu, the complete bibliography is on Leganto.
These are the main literary texts:
L. Tolstoy, Anna Karenina 1878
M. Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov 1881
B. Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago 1957
V. Grossman, Life and Fate (1959) 1980
Online Resources
More information
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