RUSS255 - The Central and East European Novel

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Academic Year 2005/2006

The Central and East European Novel
RUSS 255 SP

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 displacement and devastation 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
Joseph Roth, THE RADETZKY MARCH
Jaroslav Hasek, GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK
Ismail Kadare, THE PALACE OF DREAMS
Sholem Aleichem, TEVYE THE DAIRYMAN
Bohumil Hrabal, CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS; I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND
Tadeusz Borowski, "This Way to the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen"
Milan Kundera, THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
Witold Gombrowicz, TRANS-ATLANTYK
Dubravka Ugresic, STEFFLE SPECK IN THE JAWS OF LIFE; LIFE IS A FAIRY TALE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Conducted in English. Attendance and participation are required.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Fusso,Susanne Grace

Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK413;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 25)

SR. major: 4 Jr. major: 4

SR. non-major: 4 Jr. non-major: 5 SO: 4 FR: 4

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Speaking

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006