University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

This module offers students the opportunity to examine and discuss Russophone women's writing from 1800-1917. The pre-revolutionary Russophone literary-cultural canon is dominated by male voices. The module seeks to counter this continuing tendency by focussing on the work of women writers that increasingly came to the fore during this period. With the reforms of the 1860s and discussion of the ‘woman question’, in particular, this late imperial era was a time of intense discussion of issues concerning education, emancipation, self-definition, family and marriage. Students will consider how both fictional and non-fictional writing by women engages with these and other questions, thereby reflecting their historical and socio-political moment. Works are discussed with reference to appropriate historical, legal, gender and narratological theory in order to consider how the pre-revolutionary situation might illuminate contemporary attitudes in society.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass RU2202 or pass RU2204

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 lecture (X6 weeks) and or 1 seminar (x9 weeks) to a total of 15 hours.

Scheduled learning hours: 15

Guided independent study hours: 135

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr C E Whitehead
Module teaching staff: Dr Claire Whitehead, Dr Helen Stuhr-Rommereim
Module coordinator email cew12@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the socio-political and literary-cultural context of Russophone women's writing in the period 1800-1917.
• Analyse and discuss in appropriate depth fictional or non-fictional works written by female authors during this period.
• Make reference in their discussion of women's writing to relevant theories of socio-political context, gender and narrative theory.
• Compare and contrast the discussion of relevant issues in different works of the period.
• Draw comparisons between the treatment of gender-related issues in this period and the contemporary one.
• Demonstrate skills of independent study and research, oral presentation to student peers and written analysis.