RUSS 204 Bolshevism, Glasnost, and Beyond: Twentieth-Century Russian Literature in Translation (Not offered 1999-2000)
With the end of the twentieth century in sight, we find ourselves perfectly positioned to assess how the revolutionary changes that have swept over Russia, the world's largest country, have been reflected in its literature over the last 100 years. In this course, we will read a variety of literary genres from several historical periods, placing emphasis on the Russian revolutions at the beginning and end of our century and their impact on the country's literature. Special attention will be paid to the pre-Revolutionary avant-garde, the emergence and decline of Soviet literature, and the unique contributions of women to the literary canon in Russia. Readings by Bulgakov, Akhmatova, Pasternak, Nabokov, Solzhenitsyn, and others. All works will be read in translation. Requirements: active class participation, three short papers, and a final exam or research paper. No prerequisites.