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Academic Year 2004/2005

The Central and East European Novel
RUSS 255 FA
Crosslistings:
REES 255

This course presents a survey of 20th-century prose fiction of Eastern and Central Europe, with an emphasis on the Czech novel. Some of the questions we will explore are the impact of World War II and its concomitant horrors on Eastern and Central European literature; the relation of Eastern and Central European writers to Communism and Soviet domination; the idea of Central Europe as a shaping force in literary identity; and the relation of Eastern and Central European literature to the Western and Russian literary traditions, especially the avant-garde.

MAJOR READINGS

Miroslav Krleza, ON THE EDGE OF REASON; stories
Joseph Roth, THE RADETZKY MARCH
Jaroslav Hasek, GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK
Mesa Selimovic, DEATH AND THE DERVISH
Sholem Aleichem, TEVYE THE DAIRYMAN
Bohumil Hrabal, CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS; I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND
Tadeusz Borwoski, "This Way to the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen"

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three papers (5-7 pp.) Frequent short papers.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Conducted in English. Attendance and participation are required.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RUSS    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

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