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Syllabus
Homework
Take Home Exams
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World Literature 118
Survey of 19th Century Russian Literature in Translation
Course Description
A discussion
course, which
examines the so-called Golden Age of Russian Literature. In
chronological order, we read the works of major 19th century literary
figures. Authors include: Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev,
Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov. The course focuses upon literary
trends, archetypes and the milieu within which authors worked. There
are two take-home hour exams and a take-home final. Students who
are active in class discussion may, with the agreement of the
instructor, substitute the take-home
final for an oral exam.
Course
objectives
- To acquaint students with the Golden Age
of Russian literature.
- To discuss and analyze the works chosen
for the course.
- To become acquainted with the social,
political and literary milieu in which these works appeared.
- To explain connections among the various
works.
- To comment on the development of
archetypes and trace their development among other major Russian
writers of the 19th century.
You will have a choice of written
oran
oraltake-home final
.
Many
people normally choose to write
the take-home exam. Those who are very comfortable with discussion from
classroom experience and who have earned an "A" on both written hour
exams, may choose
to set a time to take the final exam orally on a one-to-one basis with
the
instructor. Especially those interested in graduate work can
benefit
from this format, since MA and Ph.D. comprehensive exams normally
comprise
both a written and an oral section. Undergraduate work often
limits
the student's oportunity to experience a serious, intellectually based,
oral exam.
A basic difference between my oral exam and one for an advanced degree
is
that examiners for advanced degrees do not mind intimidating their
candidates.
That is certainly NOT my goal in this format!