RUS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Russian Fairy Tales and Children’s Literature

4 credits (Spring)

This course functions as an introduction to Russian culture through its texts written for young people. We first consider a wide selection of Russian fairy tales, their connection to other Slavic traditions (including Ukrainian), their historical and social roles for contemporary society, and their ongoing influence in Russian culture, 1800-present. We also will look at theoretical approaches to the study of fairy and folk tales before transitioning to the study of Russian children’s literature, 1917-the present day. How fairy tales and children’s literature are related genres and in which ways they function differently are major themes of discussion.

Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Herold