T. Newlin and M. Solovieva (Russian)
4 HU, CD, WRi, 4 Hours
Fall Semester FYSP 079-01 TR 3:00-4:15
The son of a serf, Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) studied medicine before turning to literature, to which he brought the compassion, honesty, and observational acuity of a good doctor. He is one of the most lapidary yet elusive of all writers, preferring to pose questions—usually obliquely—rather than offer up definitive answers. Often comic, sometimes tragic, but invariably deeply humane, his writing encourages conversation rather than closing it down. Through a careful but open-ended reading of his stories, novellas, plays, letters, and non-fiction, this course will reflect on the ways that Chekhov, more than a century after his death, can still serve as a subtly subversive model for thinking about the complexities of modern life and the human condition. Co-taught by a Russian and an American, the course will entail an on-going dialog about what makes Chekhov specifically Russian, and what accounts for his enduring appeal beyond Russia's borders. We also will actively look to his works for insight into how to write in precise, supple, and interesting way.