Rus 224: Russian Literature in Translation II
Course Syllabus
Spring 2025

TEXTS:
To Purchase: A. Bely, Petersburg; E. Zamyatin, We; V. Kataev, Time, Forward!; M. Bulgakov, Master and Margarita; B. Pasternak; Doctor Zhivago; A. Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich; V. Voinovich, The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin; Tatyana Tolstaya, The Slynx; Clarence Brown, The Portable Twentieth-Century Russian Reader; F. D. Reeve, Twentieth Century Russian Plays.

Extracts from the following available in Blackboard Learn: Carl R. Proffer, From Karamzin to Bunin; George Gibian, The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader; Vladimir Markov, Modern Russian Poetry; F. D. Reeve, Anthology of Russian Plays, Vol. 2; Nicholas Luker, An Anthology of Russian Neo-realism; Robert Chandler, Russian Short Stories from Pushkin to Buida; Mark Lipovetsky and Valentina Brougher, 50 Writers; Gerald S. Smith, Contemporary Russian Poetry; Olga Andreyev Carlisle and Rose Styron, Modern Russian Poetry; Sergei Zalygin, The New Soviet Fiction; Helena Goscilo and Byron Lindsey, Glasnost: An Anthology of Russian Literature under Gorbachev; V. Rasputin, Siberia on Fire; V. Shukshin, Roubles in Words Kopeks in Figures; V. Pelevin, A Werewolf Problem in Central Russia; V. S. Soloviev, Politics, Law, Morality.

DESCRIPTION:
Survey of modern Russian literature from the latter two decades of the 19th century to the present. Trends covered include Neo-Realism, Symbolism, Acmeism, Futurism and Socialist Realism. This course covers poetry, drama and prose (short story and novel). All materials are read in English. No knowledge of Russian is required for this course. Three (3) credit hours.
Overall, this course addresses the ability to deal with questions of values, ethics and esthetics as they are represented in literature and related fields in the Humanities which will be the focus. This course emphasizes the history and appreciation of the Humanities, rather than simply the ability to perform tasks at the written level. Nevertheless, this course will include substantial in-class and out-of-class writing that encourages the development of critical thinking and requires students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate knowledge.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY and GOALS: The reading for this course is focused exclusively on primary works of Russian literature. While general histories of Russian literature and critical works certainly have their value, they are best appreciated once the student has read a sufficient number of novels, stories and plays. As a result none are assigned so that the student may read a larger number of texts. The requisite biographical and cultural background will be provided in the lectures. The student will follow the further flowering of modern Russian literature in the so-called Silver Age as well as developments in the Soviet period and after. The student will become familiar with the classic works of twentieth-century Russian literature and such trends as Symbolism, Acmeism, Futurism and Socialist Realism which dominated the literary scene. In addition, the student will analyze and discuss literary works in a manner that consists of more than mere plot summary. As a result of this course the student will become aware that Russian authors are often acutely aware of their predecessors and contemporaries (both Russian and Western) and engaged in dialogue with them. Finally, the student will develop some familiarity with the course of Russian history and basic elements of Russian culture.

REQUIREMENTS:
Two exams and a comprehensive final exam. The written exams will consist of essays requiring the student to analyze various aspects of the assigned readings. If you have a conflict with a test date, I will allow you to take the exam early, provided that you inform me beforehand.
There will also be an essay of 2-3 pages due on each of the seven novels read for the course. The essays are not to be research papers, but neither are they to be mere plot summaries. Rather the student is to analyze some aspect of the novel. Several possible themes for each essay will be provided by the instructor although students are free to come up with their own. A general guide for writing essays will also be provided. The essays are due on the day discussion of each novel begins. Late essays will be accepted but will be penalized with a loss of at least ten points
Testing Schedule (Subject to change):
Exam One: Wednesday, Feb. 9
Exam Two: Wednesday, Apr. 12
Comprehensive Final Exam: Monday, Apr. 28, 1:30-3:30PM

ATTENDANCE:  Attendance is required, will be recorded, and will be a significant component of your grade.

GRADING:
Everything is graded on the 100-point scale. The final course grade will be based on your performance on the two exams, each worth 20% of your final grade, attendance which is worth 15%, the essays which are worth 20% and the final exam which is worth 25%. All course grades are given on a +/- basis. For an explanation of the policy, see the Undergraduate Catalog.Generative AI Tools: AI use is not allowed: All submitted work must be produced by the students themselves. Use of a generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to complete an assignment constitutes academic misconduct.

ClassRoom etiquette:
It is expected that all students will pay attention and participate in class. Therefore, no electronic devices are to be used in class unless an assignment specifically calls for it or unless it has been approved by ODS (see below). Recreational use of electronic devices in class is a distraction for everyone else and all cellphones, laptops, tablets, etc. are to be turned off when class starts. Persistent violations will result in a reduction of the student’s class attendance grade. In instances regarding a family or medical emergency, an exception will be granted, if you inform the instructor in advance.

Academic misconduct policy:
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

DISABILITY STATEMENT:
The University of Alabama is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs. If you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability) and need reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in this class, contact the Office of Disability Services (or ODS; 205-348-4285, ods@ua.edu, Houser Hall 1000, www.ods.ua.edu) as soon as possible. If you have been approved to receive accommodations through ODS, please meet with me during office hours or by appointment to submit your accommodation letter and discuss how accommodations can be implemented in this course.

UAct: The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility.  The UAct website (www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking , sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.

EMERGENCY STATEMENT:
The UA emergency information site: http://prepare.ua.edu/. In the event of an emergency, the instructor will give information on the course through Blackboard Learn.