Thanks Chris! I'm going to have to tear myself back to the present for the weekend as I'm off on a trip. I'm looking forward to the next instalments myself!
It is very interesting to me to know how Russian literature is studied as a foreign literature. Before learning about a writer, do you study his/her life and work, or just the work you read at the time? Some of your instructors' questions seem strange, like about Chekhov's problem writing Lady... Or you studied Anna Karenina before Sebastopol Stories, which were the first written by young Tolstoy. I am fascinated by your love of Russian Literature. Thank you.
I am curious, but I can wait for the answer after your trip. When you studied Russian literature, did you have lectures on Russian writers, their lives, their work in connection with the other writers, like Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky, who lived at the same time and had some literary connections. Or you choose one of their work, as you write, and answer your professor's questions? Had you discussed the problems of their epoch, or did you only discuss characters and their relations? Like Oblomov characterizes the problem of Russian character in general, that is why there is a concept of "oblomovshchina' in Russia until now...
I don’t remember much about what we learned in lectures and I didn’t keep any notes. I don’t recall being particularly enthralled in any lectures, but remember that this was all so new to me that I’m sure I found it difficult to engage fully. I was more interested in the language and linguistics side than the literature side. It’s only now that I’m really getting into it and having a good time learning about all the connections.
Thank you for the answer. I am always interested in how Russian culture is interpreted, because so many people are interested in it—great success with Oblomov.
You have a fascinating personal story!
Thanks for reading, Katy!
Just fascinating! Looking forward to the next 2.
Thanks Chris! I'm going to have to tear myself back to the present for the weekend as I'm off on a trip. I'm looking forward to the next instalments myself!
It is very interesting to me to know how Russian literature is studied as a foreign literature. Before learning about a writer, do you study his/her life and work, or just the work you read at the time? Some of your instructors' questions seem strange, like about Chekhov's problem writing Lady... Or you studied Anna Karenina before Sebastopol Stories, which were the first written by young Tolstoy. I am fascinated by your love of Russian Literature. Thank you.
I am curious, but I can wait for the answer after your trip. When you studied Russian literature, did you have lectures on Russian writers, their lives, their work in connection with the other writers, like Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky, who lived at the same time and had some literary connections. Or you choose one of their work, as you write, and answer your professor's questions? Had you discussed the problems of their epoch, or did you only discuss characters and their relations? Like Oblomov characterizes the problem of Russian character in general, that is why there is a concept of "oblomovshchina' in Russia until now...
I don’t remember much about what we learned in lectures and I didn’t keep any notes. I don’t recall being particularly enthralled in any lectures, but remember that this was all so new to me that I’m sure I found it difficult to engage fully. I was more interested in the language and linguistics side than the literature side. It’s only now that I’m really getting into it and having a good time learning about all the connections.
Thank you for the answer. I am always interested in how Russian culture is interpreted, because so many people are interested in it—great success with Oblomov.