The Golden Age of Russian Literature

Description

The course focuses on the most important 19th-c. Russian writers with the view to introduce students to their works and ideas. It will examine the main socio-political and cultural trends in Russia and in Europe that influenced such writers as Pushkin, Gogol', Turgenev, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. This course is idea-led: it will examine in depth several key themes clearly outlined at the beginning of the course. The list of main themes includes these points: the legacy of the Enlightenment and the representation of madness in Russian literature; the inter-relationship between the author and the government; the representation of St Petersburg in literature and the construction of Russian national identity; the criticism of Russian imperial policies; the emergence of nihilism and positivism in Russia; and the ongoing dialogue between Russia and the west. The course develops students' literary analytical skills, and enables them to gain deeper insights into the major themes explored by Russian most influential 19th-c. writers as well as into the techniques employed in their works. Assessment Information: Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%