Medieval Rus′: Course Outline

University of Pittsburgh, Autumn 2008 (09-1)

David J. Birnbaum (djbpitt+medieval@pitt.edu)

Location: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~djb/medieval_literature/09-1/outline.html
Main Course Page: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~djb/medieval_literature/09-1/

Last revised: 2008-08-26

Introduction

Russian 2700 (Medieval Rus′) is a survey of the culture of Rus′ and of Russia before the eighteenth century. It concentrates primarily on written materials, with bits of art and architecture tucked in around the edges. Regular course meetings are Monday and Wednesday from 4:30–5:45 in CL 2318. The course number is 30409.

About the instructor

David J. Birnbaum
Email: djbpitt+medieval@pitt.edu
Office: 1417 Cathedral of Learning
Phone: 412-624-5712
Office Hours: M 2:30–3:20, W 3:30–4:20, and by appointment

Materials

Primary texts

Participants are responsible for the texts in Serge A. Zenkovsky’s Medieval Russia’s Epics, Chronicles, and Tales (New York: Dutton, 1974), but may do the readings either there or in any comparable anthology in the language of their choice. Specific selections from long texts (e.g., Primary Chronicle or the Life of Avvakum) may not correspond in all anthologies, and those who use other anthologies are nonetheless responsible for the excerpts selected by Zenkovsky. Note that editions of Zenkovsky prior to 1974 contain fewer texts than the 1974 edition.

Unless otherwise specified, primarily materials may be read in English or modern Russian. Works that must be read in the original will be identified; no prior experience in reading medieval East Slavic texts in the original is assumed or required.

The Библиотека литературы древней руси web site of the Института русской литературы (Пушкинского Дома) РАН contains most of the principal early East Slavic texts in parallel (normalized “old Russian” alongside modern Russian).

Secondary texts

Literary history

Participants are required to read on their own a comprehensive general history of the literature of early Rus′ of their choice. Suggested literary histories include:

• Čiževskij, Dmitrij. History of Russian literature from the eleventh century to the end of the Baroque. ’s-Gravenhage, Mouton, 1962.
• Gudzii, N. K. Istoriia drevnei russkoi literatury. Izd. 7., ispr. i dop. Moscow: Prosveshchenie, 1966.
• Likhachev, D.S. (red). Istoriia russkoi literatury X–XVII vekov: uchebnoe posobie. Moscow: Prosveshchenie, 1980. Available on line at http://www.infoliolib.info/philol/lihachev/index.html.

For research on individual topics you should also consult the relevant entries in the multi-volume Slovar′ knizhnikov i knizhnosti drevnei Rusi (D.S. Likhachev, otv. red.), Leningrad: Nauka, 1987–. The first two volumes (in three parts), which run through the end of the sixteenth century, are available on line at http://www.pushkinskijdom.ru/Default.aspx?tabid=2048.

Other historical references

Participants should become familiar with Russian medieval history (political, cultural, etc.). Suggested sources are:

• Billington, James. The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretative History of Russian Culture. NY: Random House, 1970.
• Hamilton, George Heard. The Art and Architecture of Russia. Third edition. New Haven: Yale UP, 1992.
• MacKenzie, David and Michael W. Curran. A History of Russia, the Soviet Union, and Beyond. Sixth edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.
• Martin, Janet. Medieval Russia, 980–1584. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Mailing list

All seminar participants are required to subscribe to (and read regularly) the Early Slavic Studies mailing list at http://www.h-net.org/~ess/.

Professional Assocations

• Early Slavic Studies Assocation
• Slavonic and East European Mediæval Studies Group

Other materials

Photocopies of secondary materials will be distributed as needed, and there will be a charge for photocopying.

Grading

Components (with percentage of grade):

• Daily class participation (15%).
• Oral presentations (20% x 2 = 40%): See http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~djb/medieval_literature/09-1/oral_guidelines.html.
• Research project (20%): See http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~djb/medieval_literature/09-1/paper_guidelines.html.
• Reports and comments on other students’ research projects (10%): See http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~djb/medieval_literature/09-1/paper_guidelines.html.
• Final examination (15%).

The five film screenings on the syllabus are strongly recommended, but they are optional and will not be included on the final examination.