Internationally
acclaimed as one of the most insightful, ingenious and influential writers of
modernity, Fedor Dostoevsky contributed to the world classics five masterworks
which employ engaging, dynamic plots of murder novels and at the same time
contemplate eternal questions of human existence. In this course we will
explore his last novel and most celebrated masterpiece, The Brothers Karamazov (1880),
which we will approach through the close reading and analysis of its major
thematic concerns, including selfhood, faith, love, ethics, family and justice.
Our discussions will be accompanied by background lectures, which will set this
work in the context of Dostoevsky’s artistic world. The course site will
contain all the course materials, including schedule, reading assignments,
discussion questions and additional materials.
Readings:
We will read Dostoevsky’s masterpiece in Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation.
All page references will be to this edition, yet other translations are also
welcome.
The Brothers Karamazov I
(Part I, first 5 clases)
LTR2A-F
October 9
Class 1
The Brothers Karamazov, Part I: Book
I (3-34), Book II (34-91)
Discussion Questions to Class 1
October 16
Class 2
Part I: Book II (34-91) continued,
Book III (92-160)
Discussion Questions to Class 2
October 23
Class 3
Part II: Book IV (163-212), Book V
(213-282)
Discussion Questions to Class 3
October 30
Class 4
Part II: Book V (213-282) continued,
The Grand Inquisitor
Discussion Questions to Class 4
November 6
Class 5
Part II: Book VI (283-324), Part
III: Book VII (327-363)
Discussion Questions to Class 5
The Brothers Karamazov II
(2nd part of the course, 5 classes)
LTR2B-F
November 13
Class 6 (1)
Part III: Book VIII (364-444), Book
IX (445-514)
Discussion Questions to Class 6
November 20
Class 7 (2)
Part IV: Book X (515-562)
Discussion Questions to Class 7
November 27
Class 8 (3)
Part IV: Book XI (563-655)
Discussion Questions to Class 8
December 4
Class 9 (4)
Part IV: Book XII (656-753)
Discussion Questions to Class 9
December 11
Class 10 (5)
Part IV: Book XII (656-753)
continued, Epilogue (757-776)
Discussion Questions to Class 10
Discussion Questions: the entire list
Additional materials
