The course provides an introduction to the novel form and explores in detail the works of two of the most famous Russian writers of the 19th century: Fedor Dostoevskij and Lev Tolstoj, often considered by critics and readers as antithetical, or even merged into a superficial and unitary authorial voice, ironically defined by Nabokov as "Tolstoevskij". In the first part of the course, we will explore the aesthetic and philosophical specificities of the novel form in Russia and its links with other European literatures. Later we will read a selection of novels by the two authors, together with excerpts from the writers' diaries. We will investigate the presence and persistence of the two figures within Russian culture, and we will try to understand how the novel form has changed over the years. 

Historical and methodological introduction: definitions (?) of the novel form: boundaries, violations, anti-novels, the novel form today. Critical excerpts from Lukács, Auerbach, Watt, Bachtin.

Literature: reading and commenting on some novels by Fedor Dostoevskij and Lev Tolstoj. Persistence and fortune of the two figures within Russian visual culture, contemporary Russian and Italian literature, and the web.

Final workshop: translating Dostoevskij and Tolstoj into Italian: stylistic and lexical specificities, comparative study of some existing translations, drafting of two short collective translations.

Knowledge and understanding: knowledge and ability to understand contents and problems concerning the theme of the exile within the context of Russin literature, and the more generic subject of the course, identifying key moments in the history of Russian Literature

Applying knowledge and understanding: application of knowledge to specific literary products, showing the ability to recognize the historical roots of cultural processes

Making judgements: acquisition of information in the field of Russian literature in order to reflect upon specific poems and novels; ability to formulate personal hypothesis

Communication skills: use of a clear and precise language, adopting the specific vocabulary.

Learning skills: independent studying and learning

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

not provided

Teaching

Lectures

Course books

Since the program of the course will take into account preferences and needs of the students, the final bibliography will be defined in progress.

Historical and methodological introduction: some excerpts from

György Lukács, "Theory of the novel"

Eric Auerbach, "Mimesis"

Franco Moretti, "Il romanzo" (I-V)

Ian Watt, "The rise of the novel"

Michail Bachtin, "Epos and the novel"

Literature:

Fedor Dostoevskij: "Crime and Punishment" [mandatory]; another novel to be chosen from: "The Double", "Notes from the Underground", "The Gambler", "The Idiot", "Demons", "The Brothers Karamazov", diaries and letters.

Lev Tolstoj: "Anna Karenina" [mandatory]; another novel to be chosen from: "Childhood", "Boyhood", "Youth", "The Cossacks", "War and Peace", "Resurrection", diaries and letters.

Dostoevskij and Tolstoj as literary characters: a novel to be chosen from Paolo Nori, "Sanguina ancora", Leonid Cypkin "Summer in Baden Baden", Pietro Citati "Tolstoj", Vladimir Pozner "Tolstoj is dead", Jan Brokken "The Cossack garden"

Essays: excerpts from Girard, Šklovskij, Merežkovskij, Nabokov, Gide, Steiner, Freud, Woolf.

Assessment

Oral test evaluating knowledge and understanding (the novel form, specific authors, selected works); applied knowledge and understanding (applications to specific and complex literary cases); competences (critical and independent judgment, with reference to the theme of the course).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Personal study on the given texts

Attendance

Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher

Course books

Since the program of the course will take into account preferences and needs of the students, the final bibliography will be defined in progress.

Historical and methodological introduction: some excerpts from

György Lukács, "Theory of the novel"

Eric Auerbach, "Mimesis"

Franco Moretti, "Il romanzo" (I-V)

Ian Watt, "The rise of the novel"

Michail Bachtin, "Epos and the novel"

Literature:

Fedor Dostoevskij: "Crime and Punishment" [mandatory]; another novel to be chosen from: "The Double", "Notes from the Underground", "The Gambler", "The Idiot", "Demons", "The Brothers Karamazov", diaries and letters.

Lev Tolstoj: "Anna Karenina" [mandatory]; another novel to be chosen from: "Childhood", "Boyhood", "Youth", "The Cossacks", "War and Peace", "Resurrection", diaries and letters.

Dostoevskij and Tolstoj as literary characters: a novel to be chosen from Paolo Nori, "Sanguina ancora", Leonid Cypkin "Summer in Baden Baden", Pietro Citati "Tolstoj", Vladimir Pozner "Tolstoj is dead", Jan Brokken "The Cossack garden"

Essays: excerpts from Girard, Šklovskij, Merežkovskij, Nabokov, Gide, Steiner, Freud, Woolf.

Assessment

Oral test evaluating knowledge and understanding (the novel form, specific authors, selected works); applied knowledge and understanding (applications to specific and complex literary cases); competences (critical and independent judgment, with reference to the theme of the course).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.