160053 PS Lit. Wechselbez. (PS): Russian Lit. from the 19th Century Onwards in the Context of World Literature (2010W)

The course will continue to introduce students to the riches of Russian literature. We will study a range of texts by the recognised literary "greats" from the nineteenth century, such as Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and many others. The social and historical context of these works will also be considered. The course will provide an opportunity to appreciate the aesthetic and humanist qualities that have traditionally been valued in Russian literature. It will give an insight into the development of literary expression, the passion for challenging social norms, and Russian ideas about God, political power, nature and human perversity. We will view Russian literature in its relation to world literature and will examine the way it is entwined with the latter one.
The attendance at the previous lecture series is not necessary for this course.