SAMPLE AYLLABUS 01:860:340 Nabokov
Prof. Carol J. Avins
Rutgers University
Russian xxx cross-listed with Comparative Literature xxx
Mon.-Thurs. 11:30-12:50, Murray Hall 201
Fall 2010
Office hours: Mon. and Thurs. 1-2, and by appointment
Dept. of Germanic, Russian, and East European Languages and Literatures
172 College Avenue, Rm.301; 732-932-7201, ext.23
email: avins@rci.rutgers.edu
This course is an exploration of the works of Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977), unique in
having made a brilliant career as both a Russian and an American writer. The first half of
the course focuses on the Russian-language stories and novels written in emigration in
Berlin during the 1920's and 1930's; the course then follows Nabokov's turn to writing in
English, examining such novels as Lolita and Pale Fire. The treatment of emigration and
exile in Nabokov’s fiction, the nature of his artistry, and the debates his works aroused
concerning politics and pornography are among the issues to be considered. All reading in
English.
Course goals. Students will:
understand Nabokov’s works in both Russian and American historical, political, and cultural
contexts; understand their unique narrative and stylistic devices; acquire a conception of the
writer’s intellectual and literary evolution; be challenged to think critically about the author’s
handling of themes such as individuality, sexuality, exile, the nature of literary art; sharpen
analytical and communication skills; be able to propose an argumentative thesis and support it
with appropriate evidence.
Russian Program Goals:
http://seell.rutgers.edu/Main%20Pages/Major_Minor_3_20_12.html
Comparative Literature Goals:
http://complit.rutgers.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Ite
mid=157
Required Books (all by Vladimir Nabokov; all at Rutgers Bookstore. Required and
recommended books are also on two-hour Reserve at Alexander Library)
The Annotated Lolita, ed. Alfred Appel
The Defense
Invitation to a Beheading
Pale Fire
Pnin
Speak, Memory
The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov
Recommended Books
2
Boyd, Brian. Vladimir Nabokov: The Russian Years (1899-1940)
Vladimir Nabokov: The American Years (1940-1977)
Nabokov’s Pale Fire: The Magic of Artistic Discovery
Also on Reserve
Griffith, Kelley. Writing Essays about Literature: A Guide and Style Sheet
Karlinsky, Simon, ed. Dear Bunny, Dear Volodya: The Nabokov-Wilson Letters,
1940-1971
Wood, Michael. The Magician’s Doubts: Nabokov and the Risks of Fiction
All by Vladimir Nabokov:
Lectures on Literature
Lectures on Russian Literature
Strong Opinions
Website
Course materials and announcements will be posted at http://sakai.rutgers.edu.
For a range of information about Nabokov’s life and works, you may wish to consult
the best scholarly site, called “Zembla”: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/.
Class Schedule
This is a guide to the approximate pace of our reading and discussion. Each
assigned reading must be completed by the date indicated and brought to class.
Study guides for each work, with discussion paper assignments and questions to
prepare for class, will be posted on Sakai. Additional short readings will
occasionally be assigned.
Nabokov and the Emigré Imagination: Sampling the Short Stories,
1920’s to 1940’s
Week I
Thurs., Sept.2
Introduction; “Signs and Symbols” (1948) (to be distributed)
Week II
Mon., Sept.6 No class (Labor Day)
Wed., Sept.8 (Mon. classes meet on Wed. this week; no class Thurs., Rosh
Hashanah)
“A Guide to Berlin” (1925); “The Return of Chorb” (1925); “Torpid
Smoke” (1935); “Breaking the News” (1935)
Week III
Sept.13
“Christmas” (1925); “A Letter that Never Reached Russia” (1925);
“Lips to Lips” (1931; pub.1956); “Perfection” (1932); “The Admiralty
Spire” (1933); “The Visit to the Museum” (1939)
3
Sept.16
“Cloud, Castle, Lake” (1937); Speak, Memory (1951; revd.1966),
Ch.1-3
Autobiographical Return
Week IV
Sept.20
Sept.23
Speak, Memory, through Ch.9
Speak, Memory, to end
Fictional Return
Week V
Sept.27
Sept.30
The Defense (1930), through Ch.7
The Defense, to end
Internal Exile
Week VI
Oct.4
Oct.7
Invitation to a Beheading (1938), through Ch.4; Quiz #1
Invitation to a Beheading, through Ch.12
Week VII
Oct.11
Oct.14
Invitation to a Beheading, to end
Invitation to a Beheading
An American Journey
Week VIII
Oct.18
Oct.21
Lolita (1955; U.S. pub.1958), through Part I, Ch.14
Lolita, to end of Part I
Week IX
Oct.25
Oct.28
Lolita, through Part II, Ch.13
Lolita, through Part II, Ch.26
Week X
Nov.1
Nov.4
Lolita, to end
Lolita; Quiz #2
The Professor in Exile
Week XI
Nov.8
Nov.11
Pnin (1957), through Ch.3
Pnin, to end
Exiles, Real and Imagined
Week XII
Nov.8
Nov.11
Pale Fire (1962), to p.78
Pale Fire, to 136
4
Week XIII
Nov.15
Nov.18
Pale Fire, to p.196
Pale Fire, to p.262
Week XIV
Nov.22
Nov.25
No class (Wed. classes meet)
No class (Thanksgiving)
Week XV
Nov.29
Dec.2
Pale Fire, to end
Pale Fire
Week XVI
Dec.6
Dec.9
Discussion; Quiz #3
Discussion
Week XVII
Dec.13
Concluding discussion; Final paper due
Course requirements
Preparation for, attendance at, and active participation in each class
As you read, take notes, develop answers to the study questions, and devise
questions of your own. Written answers to study questions will sometimes be
assigned. Come to each class with your reactions, your questions, and with ideas to
share about at least one passage from the reading that intrigues you. Occasional inclass Instant Writing assignments will call upon you to put some of your ideas on
paper.
Attendance policy: Attendance at each class is required. Punctuality is
important as well: three late arrivals count as one absence. Students who miss more
than two class sessions should present a doctor’s or dean’s note. Unexcused
absences will lower your grade.
Discussion Papers
Each student will be asked to write two discussion papers during the semester.
These are three-page papers on an assigned topic; the papers should be submitted in
class and then posted on the class Sakai site. In class, students will not read their
papers but rather present the main features of their argument, respond to questions
from other students, and explain their ideas about one passage from the reading
that relates to their topic.
Respondent Assignments
Each student will be assigned to serve as a respondent to a discussion paper twice
during the semester. This entails choosing a passage from the reading that relates to
the paper topic, writing a paragraph analyzing the passage, and posing a few
5
questions to the paper-writer about this passage as well as about the paper he or she
has presented.
Quizzes
A 30-minute quiz on the reading will be given after weeks V, X, and XV. These
three quizzes take the place of a midterm and final exam.
Final Paper
This is a seven-page essay based on your own analysis of some aspect of the reading.
Suggested topics will be distributed; you may also design your own topic in
consultation with the professor.
Evaluation
In-class performance (quality of contribution to discussion; performance as
discussion paper presenter and respondent; Instant Writing assignments): 20%
Quizzes: 20%
Discussion papers: 30%
Final paper: 30%