Russian literature came into its own in the nineteenth century, becoming the principal means by which Russians explored their cultural identity, pressed for social change and sought metaphysical truths. This semester we will be reading some of the great classics of Russian literature by Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekhov. It was a century of aristocratic balls and unrequited love, of imperial adventure and brooding Byronic heroes seeking to understand their place in the world. Our goal will be to read and discuss a series of major literary works, while also seeking to define the Russian experience of the nineteenth century. You must purchase the editions indicated below.

Requirements:
Midterm (take-home assignment): 30%
Final paper (5-7 pages): 30%
Final exam: 40%

Texts:
Pushkin, Eugene Onegin, Oxford UP (978-0-19-953864-5)
Gogol, The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol, Vintage Classics (978-0-375-70615-8)
Lermontov, A Hero of our Time, Penguin Classics (978-0-14-044795-8)
Turgenev, Fathers and Children, Norton Critical Edition (978-0-393-92797-9)
Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, Vintage Classics (978-0-679-73450-5)
Tolstoy, Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy, trans. John Bayley (978-0-06-058697-3)
Chekhov, The Portable Chekhov. Edited by Avrahm Yarmolinsky (978-0-14-015035-3)

Prerequisites:  None.