RUSSIAN LITERATURE - MOD.2

The course falls within the learning area "Literatures and cultures" and is entitled "History of the theory of literature and literary criticism in Russia". We will focus on some key aspects of Russian literary thought through the eigtheen and twenty first centuries, outlining the most important stages in its history and the central figures.

1. Knowledge and understanding
● To acquire the key concepts of the main trends in Russian literature and culture.
● Familiarize yourself with the central figures of Russian literary thought and Russian criticism.
● Understand the most important methodological approaches to the literature.
● Develop cultural awareness, critical analysis, creative thinking and intellectual independence.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the main characteristics of the historical-cultural analysis of literary texts.
● Master a specific basic vocabulary to discuss the development of the history of literature, build a structured and reasoned argument to support ideas about a literary text and make a judgment on the value of secondary sources.
● To interpret the historical and cultural contexts of Russian literary criticism in its historical context.
● Discuss key critical concerts in the context of various manifestations in the history of Russian literature; critically analyze and apply theoretical approaches to the given material.

3. Judgment skills
● Knowing how to collect, process and critically evaluate information from various paper and digital sources.
● Develop a conceptual approach to the materials the students will work with and learn to provide substantial evidence for the ideas they have developed.
● Develop the ability to carry out independent research and the ability to critically analyze texts.

4. Communication skills
● To develop written and oral communication skills in Russian.
● To develop good quality of expression of ideas (appropriate register / specialist terms) in Russian.
● Develop language proficiency (grammar, spelling, etc.) in Russian (for those who choose to write the essay in Russian).

5. Learning skills
● To develop awareness and involvement with a certain series of debates and critical works (secondary literature) in Russian.
● To develop independent analysis and interpretation of primary sources in Russian.
● Develop skills regarding bibliography and sources. Know how to work with primary and secondary sources.

Knowledge of the historical, cultural and literary evolution of Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Knowledge of Russian at B1 / B2 level is required.

The lectures will cover the following topics: the status of literature in Russia; literary criticism and theory of literature; academic schools of study of literature and change of methodological approaches to literature; development of Russian literary criticism in the 18th and 19th centuries; critique and crisis of realism at the beginning of the twentieth century; after the revolution. The 1920s. The main literary groupings; Marxist school and sociological school in Soviet literary theory; Russian formalism; Michail Bachtin; Socialist realism; Stalin's literary and political campaigns; post-Stalin criticism; structuralism; late Soviet era; the era of perestroika; post-Soviet reflection on Soviet culture; development of uncensored Russian literature; crisis of the institute of literature; theories of Russian postmodernism.

A bibliography will be given on Moodle at the beginning of the course by the Lecturer.

The oral exam (in Russian) will be as follows: all students will receive a list of three questions that were discussed during the course in lectures and seminars. From this list, each student will choose one topic and prepare it for the exam. Each exam will last up to 30 minutes.

Lectures in Russian language.

written