RUSS 305(F) Dostoevsky and His Age

A study of the life and works of Fyodor Dostoevsky in the context of Russian and Western intellectual thought. Readings include Dostoevsky's first major novel, Crime and Punishment, his masterpiece, The Brothers Karamazov, and a number of shorter works. We will also examine selections from Pushkin and Gogol, looking specifically at how each of these writers influenced Dostoevsky. Over the course of the semester, we will talk about Dostoevsky's age and society, examining the larger trends and problems that are reflected in the writer's novels: the slums of St. Petersburg with their prostitutes, beggars and moneylenders; widespread demands for social and political reform; religious and philosophical debate. All reading will be in translation. Requirements: active class participation, one paper, a midterm, and a final. No prerequisites.

Hour: E. JOHNSON