Russian Literature 1
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
This course is the first stage of a three-year program which introduces students to the historical evolution and the main phenomena and authors of Russian literature from the 18th to the 20th century. It deals with Russian literature from the second half of the eighteenth to the first half of the nineteenth century and therefore it includes world-renowned authors at the origin of the great Russian novel such as Alexander Pushkin, Nikolaj Gogol', Mikhail Lermontov and others. Addressing students who are only at the beginning of the learning path of the Russian language, it presents the literary texts in translation, introducing the students to the analysis of the artistic text in mediated form.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: outlines of the history of Russia from the second half of the eighteenth to the first half of the nineteenth century and interpretation of the relationship between social and literary dynamics in the light of the country's situation. Main authors and literary movements; evolution or the novel. Applying knowledge and understanding: the ability to read and contextualise fundamental works of Eighteenth and Nineteenth-century Russian literature in Italian. Reading passages of texts examined during the course in Italian. Understanding of historical, cultural, and social implications of literary texts; placing authors, movements and works in their context; recognizing and explaining each author's literary themes and strategies.
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 title of the course is: "Stories of War and Peace. Episodes of Russian History, Culture and Literature". The course is structured in 3 parts:
Part 1: Introduction to Russian culture and literature from its origins to the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century"
Part 2: War and peace episodes of eighteenth and nineteenth century literature"
Quote 3: War and Peace episodes of the literature of the third, fourth and fifth decade of the 19th century"
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
The course deals with one of the richest phases of Russian literature, the first half of the nineteenth century, indicating the guidelines of its evolutionary path through the different literary genres. The first part will analyze the general features of the cultural and literary evolution in Russia from its origins and above all between the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century, with particular attention to war (imperial and of defense) and peace episodes.
In the second part, we will focus on the most important authors (Fonvizin, Derzhavin, Radishchev, Karamzin, the young Pushkin) of the 18th-Century and 19th-Century literature and on the reflections of the war theme in such works as "The Brigade general", "The Waterfall", "Poor Liza", "The prisoner of the Caucasus". Finally, in the third part, we will examine the war and peace theme in Pushkin's, Lermontov's and Gogol''s verse and prose works ("Eugene Onegin", "A Captain's Daughter", "A Hero of Our Times", "Dead Souls").
Normally the course program is valid until December 2026. Students are invited to always contact the teacher for clarifications.
Part 1: Introduction to Russian culture and literature from its origins to the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century"
Part 2: War and peace episodes of eighteenth and nineteenth century literature"
Quote 3: War and Peace episodes of the literature of the third, fourth and fifth decade of the 19th century"
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
The course deals with one of the richest phases of Russian literature, the first half of the nineteenth century, indicating the guidelines of its evolutionary path through the different literary genres. The first part will analyze the general features of the cultural and literary evolution in Russia from its origins and above all between the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century, with particular attention to war (imperial and of defense) and peace episodes.
In the second part, we will focus on the most important authors (Fonvizin, Derzhavin, Radishchev, Karamzin, the young Pushkin) of the 18th-Century and 19th-Century literature and on the reflections of the war theme in such works as "The Brigade general", "The Waterfall", "Poor Liza", "The prisoner of the Caucasus". Finally, in the third part, we will examine the war and peace theme in Pushkin's, Lermontov's and Gogol''s verse and prose works ("Eugene Onegin", "A Captain's Daughter", "A Hero of Our Times", "Dead Souls").
Normally the course program is valid until December 2026. Students are invited to always contact the teacher for clarifications.
Prerequisites for admission
The course will be held in Italian in the first semester. Students are kindly requested to sign up using the app EasyLesson.
In case of classroom overcrowding, the lesson will also be held by streaming on the Teams platform.
In case of classroom overcrowding, the lesson will also be held by streaming on the Teams platform.
Teaching methods
The course will be held in Italian and will be presented through lectures and occasional student presentations in the classroom.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the MyAriel online teaching platform, to which reference is made for the materials indicated here as provided by the teacher. In addition to the course notes, students will have to prepare for the exam:
1) Textbook for the study of Russian history: N.V. Riasanovsky, "History of Russia", or other, optional, free consultation on the parts relating to the period presented;
2) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature: "Storia della civiltà letteraria russa", ed. by M. Colucci, R. Picchio, vol. 1, Torino, Utet, 1997, (pp. 226-229, pp. 265-299, 304-329, 347-357, 367-369, 389-395, 478-481, 404-433, 484-524 present in the course site on MyAiriel) or other to buy, e.g. Guido Carpi, Storia della letteratura russa. Da Pietro il Grande alla Rivoluzione d'ottobre, Roma, Carocci;
3) "Slides by the teacher", used in class during the course, useful for revision (on Ariel);
4) Literary texts and critical passages in translation downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform;
5) At least on book of each author:
- Aleksandr Puškin, Eugenio Oneghin, translated by Ettore Lo Gatto, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2008 or Evgenij Onegin, Mondadori 2021, transl. by G. Ghini; or [Umili prose] (Tales of Belkin, The Queen of Spades, The Captain's Daughter), Feltrinelli, transl. by P. Nori;
- Michail Lermontov, Un eroe del nostro tempo (A Hero of Our Time) (Mondadori, transl. P. Pera; or Garzanti, transl. L. V. Nadai);
- Nikolaj Gogol', Le anime morte (Dead Souls), (Garzanti, transl. E. Guercetti; or Einaudi, trans. A. Villa), or Veglie alla Fattoria presso Dikanka (Rizzoli edition, transl. E. Guercetti), or Taras Bulba e altri racconti Mirgorod (ed. Garzanti, transl. L. V. Nadai), or Racconti di Pietroburgo (ed. Feltrinelli, tr. D. Rebecchini)
6) At least one of the followin critical texts: Ju. Lotman, Il testo e la storia (The text and the history. Pushkin's "Evgenij Onegin"), Bologna, Il Mulino, 1985 (present in ARIEL); Ju. Lotman, Pushkin: Life of Alexandr Sergeevich Pushkin; V. Nabokov, Nikolaj Gogol'; A. D'Amelia, Introduzione a Gogol', Laterza 1995; Abram Terz, Nell'ombra di Gogol' Garzanti, 1980 (su ARIEL); In the Shadow of Gogol', Jurij Man, La poetica di Gogol', a c. di Cinzia De Lotto, Lithos, 2014; Carla Solivetti, Strategie narrative in Gogol, Lithos 2015.
Students whose mother tongue is not Italian can read the textbook, literary texts and critical literature in the original language or in their mother tongue (after agreement with the teacher)
The program for "non-attending" students is the same as that for attending students. If necessary, additional critical readings can be requested from the teacher.
1) Textbook for the study of Russian history: N.V. Riasanovsky, "History of Russia", or other, optional, free consultation on the parts relating to the period presented;
2) Textbook for the study of the history of Russian literature: "Storia della civiltà letteraria russa", ed. by M. Colucci, R. Picchio, vol. 1, Torino, Utet, 1997, (pp. 226-229, pp. 265-299, 304-329, 347-357, 367-369, 389-395, 478-481, 404-433, 484-524 present in the course site on MyAiriel) or other to buy, e.g. Guido Carpi, Storia della letteratura russa. Da Pietro il Grande alla Rivoluzione d'ottobre, Roma, Carocci;
3) "Slides by the teacher", used in class during the course, useful for revision (on Ariel);
4) Literary texts and critical passages in translation downloadable during the course from the Ariel platform;
5) At least on book of each author:
- Aleksandr Puškin, Eugenio Oneghin, translated by Ettore Lo Gatto, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2008 or Evgenij Onegin, Mondadori 2021, transl. by G. Ghini; or [Umili prose] (Tales of Belkin, The Queen of Spades, The Captain's Daughter), Feltrinelli, transl. by P. Nori;
- Michail Lermontov, Un eroe del nostro tempo (A Hero of Our Time) (Mondadori, transl. P. Pera; or Garzanti, transl. L. V. Nadai);
- Nikolaj Gogol', Le anime morte (Dead Souls), (Garzanti, transl. E. Guercetti; or Einaudi, trans. A. Villa), or Veglie alla Fattoria presso Dikanka (Rizzoli edition, transl. E. Guercetti), or Taras Bulba e altri racconti Mirgorod (ed. Garzanti, transl. L. V. Nadai), or Racconti di Pietroburgo (ed. Feltrinelli, tr. D. Rebecchini)
6) At least one of the followin critical texts: Ju. Lotman, Il testo e la storia (The text and the history. Pushkin's "Evgenij Onegin"), Bologna, Il Mulino, 1985 (present in ARIEL); Ju. Lotman, Pushkin: Life of Alexandr Sergeevich Pushkin; V. Nabokov, Nikolaj Gogol'; A. D'Amelia, Introduzione a Gogol', Laterza 1995; Abram Terz, Nell'ombra di Gogol' Garzanti, 1980 (su ARIEL); In the Shadow of Gogol', Jurij Man, La poetica di Gogol', a c. di Cinzia De Lotto, Lithos, 2014; Carla Solivetti, Strategie narrative in Gogol, Lithos 2015.
Students whose mother tongue is not Italian can read the textbook, literary texts and critical literature in the original language or in their mother tongue (after agreement with the teacher)
The program for "non-attending" students is the same as that for attending students. If necessary, additional critical readings can be requested from the teacher.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, generally in Italian, which includes questions posed by the teacher, and interactions between teacher and student. The interview lasts approximately 20-30 minutes. It aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read (works presented during the course and personal readings), the ability to historical-cultural contextualization of authors and works, the ability to explain, the precision in the use of specific terminology, and the ability to critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes. The final grade is expressed out of thirty, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case he/she will be recorded as "withdrawn")
Professor(s)
Reception:
From 17th January 2024 in my room, on Skype ([email protected]) or 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