Major Works of Dostoevsky/RUS 397

Course Syllabus and Schedule of Assignments

Instructor: Tony Anemone Fall 1998
Office: Washington 208 TuTh 12:30--1:50
Phone: 1-3636 Washington 208
Hours: TuTh 2-3 & by appointment

Course Description: Dostoevsky is the greatest crime novelist of world literature. He is also a profound religious thinker as well as one of the most important psychological novelists of modern European literature. His works have influenced French Existentialism, Freudian psychoanalysis, and anticipated the Russian Revolution and the excesses of the Communist regime. While our emphasis in this course will be on close readings of individual texts (several short texts and two novels) and Dostoevsky’s development as an artist, we will also pay some attention to Dostoevsky the religious thinker, philosopher and political critic.

Course Requirements: Lots of reading, regular class attendance, three short (4-6 pp.) analytical papers, one take-home final paper (10-12 pp) due at the scheduled final examination time: Monday, December 14. Grading:
    Attendance: 10%
    Short Papers: 45%
    Final paper: 45%

Required Books (on sale at College Bookstore):
Great Short Works of Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment
The Brothers Karamazov

Recommended Background Readings:

You should read briefly about Dostoevsky’s life and works in one of the standard histories of Russian literature at Swem Library. For example:

D. S. Mirsky, History of Russian Literature (several copies, PG2951.M49 1958)

Victor Terras, ed. Handbook of Russian Literature (REF: PG2940.H29 1985)

Victor Terras, History of Russian Literature (PG2950.T43 1991)

C. Moser, ed. The Cambridge History of Russian Literature (PG2951.C36 1992)

There are, of course, many full-length studies of Dostoevsky’s life and works available in Swem. Two traditional biographies by Russian scholars are K. Mochulsky (PG3328.M613) and Leonid Grossman (PG3328.G66 1962). The best contemporary study of Dostoevsky is a five-volume work by Joseph Frank, only four volumes of which have appeared so far.

Schedule of Assignments*

WEEK 1

Th. 8/27 Introduction to Course

WEEK 2

Tu. 9/1 Reading: "White Nights"

Th. 9/3 Reading: "A Disgraceful Affair"

WEEK 3

Tu. 9/8 Reading: "Notes from the Underground," Part 1

Th. 9/10 Reading: "Notes from the Underground," Part 2

WEEK4

Tu. 9/15 Reading: Crime and Punishment, Part 1

Th. 9/17 Reading: Crime and Punishment, Part 2

WEEK 5

Tu. 9/22 Reading: Crime and Punishment, Part 3

Th. 9/24 Class cancelled/AAASS Conference

WEEK 6

Tu. 9/29 Reading: Crime and Punishment, Part 4

First Paper Due

Th. 10/1 Reading: Crime and Punishment, Part 5

WEEK 7

Tu. 10/6 Reading: Crime and Punishment, Part 6 & Epilogues

Th. 10/8 Summing up Crime and Punishment

WEEK 8

FALL BREAK 10/10 - 10/13, Saturday - Tuesday

Th. 10/15 Reading: "The Eternal Husband"

WEEK 9

Tu. 10/ 20 Reading: "A Gentle Creature"

Th. 10/22 Reading: "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man"

Second paper due

WEEK 10

Tu. 10/27 Brothers Karamazov, Books 1- 2

Th. 10/29 Brothers Karamazov, Books 3-4

WEEK 11

Tu. 11/3 Brothers Karamazov, Book 5

Th. 11/5 Brothers Karamazov, Book 6

WEEK 12

Tu. 11/10 Brothers Karamazov, Books 7-8

Th. 11/ 12 Brothers Karamazov, Book 9

WEEK 13

Tu. 11/17 Brothers Karamazov, Books 10-11

Th. 11/19 Brothers Karamazov, Book 12 & Epilogue

WEEK 14

Tu. 11/24 Third Paper Due

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 11/25 - 11/29, Wednesday - Sunday

WEEK 15

Tu. 12/1 Concluding Remarks on Brothers Karamazov

Th. 12/3 Summing Up

*Readings are to be completed by the date assigned.