Russian 412: Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature

Spring Quarter 2011

Call No. 06876

Meeting time and place: Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 1:10-2:00        Gordy 205

Instructor:       Vera Belousova

Office:             Gordy 331

Office hours:   Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 4:10-5:00

Office phone:  593-2791 (593-2765 messages at the department office)

E-mail:    belousov@ohio.edu

Home page:  http://modlang.ohio.edu/undergraduate/russian/russian-courses/

(Please consult this page for on-line syllabus.)

Required Textbooks/Materials (now available at bookstores):

Rosengrant/Lifschitz, ed. The Golden Age: Readings in Russian Literature of the Nineteenth Century. John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

Obolensky, ed. The Heritage of Russian Verse. Indiana University Press, 1976.

Other materials will be handed out in class.

Take-Home Final Examination due: Monday, 6 June, 2:20 pm

Last Day to Add a Class without instructor’s approval: Monday, April 4.

Last Day to Add/Drop a Class without receiving a grade of WP or WF, or to Add Class with instructor’s approval: Monday, April 11 (Be sure to check your final schedule by calling TRIPS or checking the web at http://www.ohio.edu/registrar no later than April 8.)

Last Day to Drop a Course (with a grade of WP or WF): Monday, May 2

Overview and Goals of the Course:

This course will provide an introduction to nineteenth-century Russian poetry,  and prose.  The course will be in a mixed lecture-discussion format, with an emphasis on discussions.  We will be discussing the literary works in their historical context, as well as formal aspects of each text.  You will be asked to write two papers and one take-home final paper on the texts, to give one oral report on a text of your choice, and to participate regularly in class discussions.

Course Requirements:

1. 1. Attendance. Class participation is vital for your success. Four (4) absences will be allowed; after that each absence will reduce your attendance grade by 1/3 of a letter: a fifth absence will give you an A-, a sixth a B+, and so forth. I will make exceptions to this policy for documented excused absences as listed in the 2010-2012 Undergraduate Catalogue. Significant lateness (10-20 minutes) will result in subtraction of 1/2 credit on that day’s attendance grade. If you are more than 20 minutes late, you will receive no attendance credit for that day.

You are responsible for all class material, including material from days you miss. You may pick up missed materials from the instructor.

The best way for the instructor to reach the entire class or any of you individually, should that be necessary, is by e-mail through your university accounts. If you do not currently use your OU account, please set it to forward messages to whatever e-mail address you are using. For information about e-mail forwarding, see the OU Communication Network Services website: http://technology.ohio.edu/email/.

2.  Participation.  Participation is crucial to a discussion course, and to the improvement of your spoken Russian.  You will be expected to have read the text(s) assigned for each class day, to be prepared to answer the questions in the book (as applicable) on that text, and to discuss the text(s) for that day with the class.

3.  Papers.  You will be required to write two papers in Russian.  Each should be at least three pages, single-sided, double-spaced, and handwritten.  If you prefer to type your papers, they should be four pages long, double-spaced.  I will distribute possible paper topics a week before each paper is due.  If you would like to write on another topic, you may do so, but please consult with the instructor at least one class period before the paper is due.

Papers will receive two grades: one on grammar/style and one on content.  The first grade will be calculated according to the number of mistakes in grammar, spelling, and the number of gross errors in style.  The second grade will reflect the degree to which you depart from the “book report,” in which you simply recount the plot or give a description of events.  I would like you to strive toward analysis, in which you attempt to explore such points as character development, structure, recurrent motifs, and other points beyond a mere retelling of events.  A paper which shows analysis and original thought will receive an A on content.  A paper which reflects mainly points covered in class, but which goes beyond the “book report” summary of events, will receive a B.  The “book report”-style paper will be given a C on content.  A paper which shows a misunderstanding of the story, a lack of attentive reading, or formless structure (unclear hypothesis and vague, unconnected supporting points) will receive a D.  Short, incomprehensible papers which show little or no relation to what is being discussed will receive an F.

Papers will be due 26 April and 17 May.  Any  paper turned in late will receive a grade (both on grammar and on content) one-third lower per weekday late than it would otherwise receive.

4.  Oral Presentation.  You will be required to give one presentation of about ten minutes during the quarter.  Early in the quarter, the instructor will hand out a sign-up sheet for oral presentation dates.  In your oral presentations to the class you should cover such points as theme, style, structure, recurrent motifs, narration, as appropriate to the text.  The presenter should receive the instructor’s approval of the topic for the presentation no later than one week before the presentation is scheduled. Further details about the presentation will be discussed a week before the first presentation takes place.

No outside reading is required either for the papers or for the presentation.  If you do choose to consult an outside source (a literary encyclopedia or handbook, for example), you will be required to cite that source in your essay or presentation.

1. 5. Final Examination.  The final examination will be in a take-home essay format.  The instructor will distribute the exam on the last day of class, and it will be due at the time the examination is scheduled, at 2:20 am on Monday, June 6.  Late exams will not be accepted.

6. Academic Conduct.  Cheating on examinations or plagiarism in any form (including submitting the work of other students as your own) will result in penalties which could include an F on the assignment and referral to University Judiciaries for further inquiry and possible disciplinary action. Please review the section entitled “Academic Misconduct” of the 2010-2012 Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog.

You are welcome to consult with tutors, more advanced students, or native speakers with questions; however, your assignments must be your own work. If anyone else writes, rewrites, or edits your homework, that will be considered academic misconduct.

7.  Grading Scheme.  Grades will be calculated as follows:

Papers (2 @ 25%)  50%

Final Examination  25%

Attendance  10%

Participation  10%

Oral Presentation  5%

Total  100%

8. Tutoring. Russian tutors have traditionally been available, if you need extra help. Talk to me, or contact the Academic Advancement Center in Alden Library 101, at 593-2644, or on the web at http://www.ohiou.edu/aac/tutoring/.

9. Graduate Students taking the course as 513: If your performance level for the term is B or above, you will receive a final grade of CR. If your performance level is B- or lower, you will receive the letter grade as earned.

10. Disability statement: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss his/her specific needs. If you are not yet registered as a student with a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 740-593-2620 in Crewson House.

11. Study Abroad. Ohio University has a biannual Spring Quarter study abroad program in Moscow. Students who will have completed Russian 212 by the departure date will be eligible to apply. You could be in Moscow for the Spring Quarter of 2012! There are program brochures outside the Modern Languages office, Gordy 283, and outside the Education Abroad office, Lindley 185.

12. Conversation Hour. If you would like more opportunity to speak or listen to Russian, you are welcome to visit the weekly Russian conversation hour. Information will be posted regularly on the bulletin board outside Gordy 205, and I will make regular announcements about conversation hour and other activities in class.

Course Schedule:

The following schedule is intended as a guide.  I will make every effort to adhere to the schedule and particularly to the paper due dates listed here.  Please be aware, however, that I could make changes to this schedule, in order to serve the needs of the class. If I change an assignment, I will write the new assignment for that day on the board.  (If I do not write an assignment on the board, please complete the assignments listed here for that day.)  If I change a paper due date, I will give at least two class days’ notice.

Monday, 28 March:  Discussion of course objectives, syllabus

Introduction to nineteenth-century Russian literature.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. lv-lx.

Tuesday, 29 March: Introduction to nineteenth-century Russian literature.

Homework: Read Obolensky  pp. 89-90 (K***), 100-101 (Ya vas lubil…), 115 (Pora, moy drug, pora…), Na holmah Gruzii lezhit nochnaia mgla … (the instructor will give you the text).

Thursday, 31 March: Introduction to Russian literature. Russian versification. Tvorchestvo Pushkina. Vvodnaya lekciya.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. 90-92 (Zimniy vecher), 101-103 (Besy).

Friday, 1 April: Tvorchestvo Pushkina. Vvodnaja lekcija. Poeziya Pushkina.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. 111-115 (Vstupleniye k “Mednomu vsadniku”), 105-111 (Osen).

Monday, 4 April: Poeziya Pushkina.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. 84-87 (Razgovor Tatiany s nyaney iz “Yevgeniya Onegina”), 98 (Vospominaniye), “Zhil na svete rycar’ bednyi” (the instructor will give you the text).

Tuesday, 5 April: Poeziya Pushkina.

Homework: Read Roengrant/Lifschitz (R/L), pp. 7-8 (first paragraph), 30-31 (do “ih ozhidat”).

Thursday, 7 April: Proza Pushkina. Povesti Belkina. (Metel).

Homework: Read Read R/L pp. 31-33.

Friday, 8 April: Proza Pushkina. Metel..

Homework: Read Read R/L pp. 34-35 (do “neschastnogo Vladimira”).

Monday, 11 April: Proza Pushkina. Metel.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 35-38 (do “v opravdaniye”).

Tuesday, 12 April: Proza Pushkina. Metel.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 38-40.

Thursday, 14 April: Proza Pushkina. Metel..

Homework: Read R/L pp. 41-42 (do “v znak soglasiya”).

Friday, 15 April: Proza Pushkina. Metel.

Homework: Read R/L pp. 42-45.

Monday, 18 April: Tvorchestvo Pushkina. Zakliuchitelnoye zaniatiye.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. 163-164 (Lermontov “I skuchno, i grustno…”), 169-170 (Lermontov “Son”), Lermontov “Molitva”, “Vyhozhu odin ya na dorogu…” (the instructor will give you the text).

Tuesday, 19 April: Russkiye poety 19 veka. Lermontov.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. 131 (Tyutchev “Ciceron”), 132-133 (Tyjutchev “Silentium”), 190 (Fet “Ya prishel k tebe s privetom…”).

Thursday, 21 April: Russkiye poety 19 veka. Tyutchev, Fet.

Homework: Read Obolensky, pp. 208-213 (Nekrasov. Otryvok iz poemy “Moroz – Krasnyj Nos”), 196-198 (Nekrasov “Yedu li nochiu po ulice tiomnoi”).

Friday, 22 April: Russkiye poety 19 veka. Nekrasov.

Homework: Read R/L pp. 142-144 (first paragraph), 249 (top).

Monday, 25 April: Tolstoy. Vvodnaya lekciya.

Homework: Read R/L pp. 251-253 ( do “chitat”). First paper due on Thursday.

Tuesday, 26 April: Tolstoy. First paper due.

Homework: Read R/L pp. 253-255 (top).

Thursday, 28 April: Tolstoy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 255-258.

Friday, 29 April: Tolstoy. Zakliuchitelnoye zaniatiye.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 126-127, 222.

Monday, 2 May: Dostoevskiy. Vvodnaya lekciya.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 225-229 (do “stoyala”).

Tuesday, 3 May: Dostoevskiy. Vvodnaya lekciya (prodolzheniye).

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 225-229, 229-232.

Thursday, 5 May: Dostoevskiy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 229-232.

Friday, 6 May: Dostoevskiy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 232-235.

Monday, 9 May: Dostoevskiy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 236-238.

Tuesday, 10 May: Dostoevskiy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 239-242.

Thursday, 12 May: Dostoevskiy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 242-245.

Friday, 13 May: Dostoevskiy.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 245-248.

Monday, 16 May: Dostoevskiy. Zakliuchitelnoye zaniatiye. Second paper due on

Thursday.

Homework: Read R/L, p. 260.

Tuesday, 17 May: Chekhov. Vvodnaya lekciya. Second paper due.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 262-264 (do “tak neschastna”).

Thursday, 19 May: Chekhov.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 264-267 (do “obiazannosti”).

Friday, 20 May: Chekhov.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 267-269 (do “ne otvalitsia”).

Monday, 23 May: Chekhov.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 269-271 (do “prihorashivatsia).

Tuesday, 24 May: Chekhov.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 272-274 (do “zhenshin”).

Thursday, 26 May: Chekhov.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 274-276.

Friday, 27 May: Chekhov.

Homework: Read R/L, pp. 276-278.

Monday, 30 May: NO CLASS. MEMORIAL DAY.

Tuesday, 31 May: Chekhov.

No homework.

Thursday, 2 June: Chekhov.  Zakliuchitelnoye zaniatiye.

Homework: Povtoreniye.

Friday, 3 June: Podvedeniye itogov.

The lectures, classroom activities, and all materials associated with this class and developed by the instructor are copyrighted in the name of Dr. Belousova on this date March 18, 2011.