Course code

SKS6148.HT

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Vene kirjanduse tüvitekstid

Course title in English

Major Russian Literary Texts

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester

Ksenia Shmydkaya (language of instruction:English)

lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

– to gain knowledge of the main developments in Russian history and literature;
– to read in full and analyse various works of Russian literature;
– to learn to connect the fictional texts with their historical contexts;
– to understand the role of the long-term reception and translations in the books' reputations.

Brief description of the course

How to define a “major” literary text? How do these major texts connect to such concepts as “canon” and “tradition”? And what is so unique about Russian literary history? This course offers a broad historical overview of the Russophone cultural space followed by close reading of a selection of texts from the 17th to the 21st century. These works are not necessarily considered “major” in the traditional sense of the word, but in class we will discuss how they reflect the important events and trend in Russian history and literature.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- has a general understanding of Russian history and how it connects to literature;
- is capable to analyse complex literary texts, express their personal opinion and support it with convincing arguments;
- is aware of 'minor' traditions running in parallel with the dominant narrative of Russian literary history.

Teacher

Ksenia Shmydkaya

Study programmes containing that course

Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/25.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/25.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/24.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/24.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/23.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/23.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/22.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/21.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/00.HT)