This Russian Literature course invites students to read deeply through the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of the great novelists of the modern era. Dostoevsky’s novels explore faithfulness under pressure, suffering, sin, virtue, good and evil, the human psyche, and man’s relationship to God and others. Through his unforgettable characters and moral conflicts, students will wrestle with enduring questions about life, death, faith, responsibility, and the human condition.
Students will complete weekly readings and written reflections. Class time will include student presentations, Socratic discussion, and thoughtful dialogue with the texts. Students will also complete semester papers of approximately 1,000–1,250 words, helping them strengthen thesis writing, literary analysis, and preparation for college-level work.
Required texts include The Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, and The Idiot, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.
Summer Reading: Students who did not take Literature 10–12 with Mrs. Saur during the 2025–2026 year should read The Brothers Karamazov through page 197 before the first class.
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