Russian 21
Dostoevsky in Translation
Spring 2001

Course objectives:
Doubter, editor, exile, former socialist, translator, gambler, visionary, Fedor Dostoevsky is one of the great writers of the modern age. We will trace Dostoevsky's development as a writer and thinker through his stories, novels and journalism as he pursues the grand themes of truth, justice, and freedom.

Texts:
Course Packet: Available in the Dept. of Modern Languages and Literatures
Great Short Works of Fyodor Dostoevsky
The House of the Dead
Netochka Nezvanova
Crime and Punishment
The Brothers Karamazov
Dostoevsky: His Life and Works, by Konstantin Mochulsky. (Optional)

Reserve Materials
Check tripod for a complete list of reserve materials

Course structure
The course will combine lecture and discussion; assignments include participation in class discussions, a brief presentation to the class on a portion of Dostoevsky's biography, one short paper (3-4 pages), a final exam, and a final paper (5-7). Late papers will be penalized unless you provide documentation from health services; more than 3 unexcused absences will also affect your grade.

Papers
First drafts must be submitted to the course Writing Associate by the due date indicated on the assignment list. Papers should be double spaced, with reasonable margins, and conform to the page limit indicated. Attach a bibliography to your papers noting the sources you have used in your paper even if you have only cited one Dostoevsky work.

Grading
Attendance and participation 30%
Bio presentation 10%
Paper #1 20%
Final exam 20%
Paper #2 20%


 
Date Reading Biography presentation
Tu. Jan 23 Introduction Overview
Th. Jan 25 * "Christmas Tree and a Wedding" ~7 p. 2.
* "An Honest Thief" ~20 p. 3.
* "A Faint Heart" ~ 43 p. ["A Weak Heart"]		 Ch. 1
Tu. Jan 30 ** The Double (Chapters 1-8) ~75 p. Ch. 3 (p. 40-52)
Th. Feb. 1 ** The Double (Chapters 9-13) ~70 p. Ch. 3 (p. 52-68)
Tu. Feb. 6 ** White Nights ~55 p. Ch. 4 (p. 69-73, 92-98)
Th. Feb. 8 Netochka Nezvanova (Chapters 1-3) ~65 p. Ch. 5
Tu. Feb. 13 Netochka Nezvanova (Chapters 4-7) ~103 p. Ch. 6
Th. Feb. 15 House of the Dead (Part One, Ch.1-6) ~105 p.
Ch. 7
Tu. Feb. 20 House of the Dead
(Part One, Ch. 7-Part Two, Ch. 3) ~130		 Ch. 8 (155-172, 180-181)
Th. Feb. 22 House of the Dead (Part Two, Ch 4-10) ~100 p. Ch. 9
Tu. Feb. 27 **Notes from Underground (Part I) ~35 p. Ch. 11
Th. Mar. 1 **Notes from Underground (Part II) ~80 p. Ch. 12 (p. 242-60)
Fr. Mar. 2 Paper #1 (3-4 pages) due to WA by 5 p.m.  
Tu. Mar. 6 Crime and Punishment (Part One) ~75 p. Ch. 12 (p. 260-269)
Th. Mar. 8 Crime and Punishment (Part Two) ~90 p. Ch. 13 (p. 270-289)
Mar. 13, 15 Spring Break  
Tu. Mar. 20 Crime and Punishment
(Part Three - Part Four, Ch. III) ~ 115 p.		 Ch. 13 (p. 289-300)
Th. Mar. 22 Crime and Punishment
(Part Four, Ch. IV- Part Five ) ~90 p.		 Ch. 13 (p. 300-313)
Mon. Mar 26 Paper #1 due in my office by 5 p.m  
Tu. Mar. 27 Crime and Punishment (Part 6-Epilogue) ~95 p. Ch. 15 p. 334-348
Th. Mar. 29 The Brothers Karamazov (Books I & II) ~105 p. Ch. 14
Tu. Apr. 3 The Brothers Karamazov (Books III & IV) ~140 p. Ch. 16
Th. Apr. 5 The Brothers Karamazov (Book V) ~ 80 p. Ch. 17 p. 404-412
Tu. Apr. 10 The Brothers Karamazov (Books VI & VII) ~95 p. Ch. 19
Th. Apr. 12 The Brothers Karamazov
(Book VIII- Book IX, Ch. 3) ~115 p.		 Ch. 22 p. 565-576
Tu. Apr. 17 The Brothers Karamazov
(Book IX, Ch. 4- Book X) ~115 p.		 Ch. 22 p. 576-595
Th. Apr. 19 The Brothers Karamazov (Book XI) ~110 p. Ch. 23 p. 596-613
Tu. Apr. 24 The Brothers Karamazov (Book XII-Epilogue) ~140 p. Ch. 23 p. 613-636
Th. Apr. 26 *Excerpts from A Writer's Diary ~60 p.
(Everything remaining in the course packet except "Bobok")		 Ch. 21 535-546
Mon Apr 30 Draft of paper #2 (5-7) due to WA by 5 p.m.  
Tu. May 1 **A Gentle Creature ~45 p. [A Meek One] Ch. 21 p. 546-564
Th. May 3 * "Bobok" ~15 p. **Dream of a Ridiculous Man ~20 p. Ch. 24

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper # 2 due in my office by 5 p.m. on Saturday May 19

* Indicates a work in the course packet
** Indicates a work in Great Short Works of Dostoevsky