RUSSIAN LITERATURE 3

The course is entitled ““Aspects and problems of Russian culture of the Silver Age". The main themes of literary civilization and intellectual debate from 1890 to 1932, the year of the dissolution of all free cultural associations, will be illustrated, however mentioning subsequent literary phenomena up to the end of the Second World War. An essential overview of the evolution of Russian and Soviet culture in that era will be outlined.

This teaching falls within the characterizing educational activities chosen by the Degree Course in Languages, Civilizations and the Science of Language ("Literatures and Culture" and "International Politics" curricula) that allow for a deeper knowledge of the literary and cultural heritage of the two chosen languages. It is also foreseen for the "Eurasia" curriculum of the Degree Course in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa.

1. Knowledge and understanding
● Acquire the basic concepts and "cultural specific items" related to Russian history and culture in the period 1890-1932 and shortly thereafter.
● Distinguish the main Russian literary and thought currents of this same period.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● Know how to frame a literary object relating to the period 1890-1932 and shortly thereafter in its historical-cultural context.
● Know how to read and translate a literary text discussed with the teacher and comment on it with appropriate language.
● Know how to reconstruct a chronological framework of the main historical-cultural events in Russia in the period 1890-1932.

3. Making judgements
● Know how to formulate and argue simple hypotheses, also developing a critical approach to the evaluation of alternative hypotheses.

4. Communication skills
● Know how to explain with appropriate language the specific content and historical-literary features of the texts in the program, referring to adequate bibliographic sources.
● Know how to reconstruct a plot in detail, identifying the thematic nuclei and stylistic peculiarities of the extracts in the original language proposed by the teacher.
● Know how to interact with peers and with the teacher in a critical and respectful way.

5. Learning skills
● Know how to critically consult the reference texts and the bibliography contained therein, applying the notions and concepts to individual research work.

Know the historical and cultural evolution of Russia from its origins to the reign of Alexander II (as illustrated in the Russian Literature 1 and 2 courses). If necessary, the main notions can be recovered by reading: P. Bushkovitch, “Breve storia della Russia”, Turin, Einaudi, 2013, pp. 3-215; S. De Vidovich, "Letteratura russa", Milan, Vallardi, 2011, pp. 47-163. Knowledge of the Russian language is not necessary.

The lectures will combine two approaches:

1) History of Russian literature and culture.
On the background of the fundamental events of the period (World War I; the October Revolution; the Civil war; NEP; Stalinism; the Great Patriotic War) the Lecturer will give the main notions on the following topics: Russian literature before the revolution (the literary movements of Symbolism, Akmeism, Futurism) and literary criticism (Formalism); the intellectual life after the revolution: the Twenties; Russian emigration.

2) Close reading of literary texts (in Italian and in Russian, with translation in the classroom by the Lecturer)
We will focus on: the comprehension of the author's style and poetics; the place occupied by the works in the literary evolution of the time; the references to the social and cultural questions.

If you need a bibliography wholly in English, please contact the lecturer.

The exam is oral.
Students of Languages, Civilizations and the Science of Language and students of Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa will begin the exam by reading and translating from Russian to Italian an extract of a prose text covered in class, also with the help of the teacher; the text will be chosen on the basis of the level of knowledge of Russian by the individual students, and will be translated by the students with the constant help of the teacher. Those who do not have Russian in their study plan are exempt from this test.
For the rest, questions will be asked to verify knowledge of the MANDATORY texts.
Each exam can last a maximum of 30 minutes.

oral

A. scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- knowledge of the essential points of the plots of literary works and critical essays, although many suggestions from the teacher are necessary;
- sufficient ability to orient oneself on the historical-cultural evolution of the Russians in the period 1890-1932 and beyond;
- minimal ability to translate the text from Russian with the help of the teacher;
- limited communication skills.
B. scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge of the plots of literary works and critical essays, with some occasional corrective intervention by the teacher;
- fair ability to orient oneself on the historical-cultural evolution of the Russians in the period 1890-1932 and beyond;
- fair ability to translate the text from Russian with little help from the teacher;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of a language specific to literary criticism without falling into "technical jargon".
C. scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or excellent knowledge of the program, ability to establish connections between the works and formulate independent judgments starting from one's own critical readings;
- good or excellent ability to orient oneself on the historical-cultural evolution of the Russians in the period 1890-1932 and beyond;
- good or excellent ability to translate the text from Russian independently;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of a language specific to literary criticism without falling into "technical jargon".
D. honors (cum laude) will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and ability to understand applied in reference to the program, judgment ability and communication skills.

Lectures.
At the beginning of each lesson the teacher will start with an excerpt in Russian of a literary work, which he will translate together with the students. The aim is to help them gradually familiarize themselves with literature written in Russian; this part will last 15 minutes and will be useful even for those who do not have Russian in their studies, since it will allow them to reflect on some stylistic issues that are sometimes lost in Italian.

Lecture attendance is strongly recommended in order to pass the exam in the best possible way. Students who cannot attend lectures and fall into the special categories indicated on the University website (https://www.unive.it/pag/42819/ ) will have access to ad hoc preparation material on the course moodle platform; in any case, those who cannot attend lectures are invited to have at least one meeting with the teacher (in person or online) no later than 3 months before the exam session in which they intend to take the exam in order to better understand how to prepare for the oral exam.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development