RUS 493 - Module #1 Assignments

RUS 493 "African-American Literary Ties to Russian Intellectual Thought" URL: syllabus.htm

Module #1 Introduction

1) "Blacks in Russia: A Historical Perspective"
2) "Alexander Pushkin and Nancy Prince"

Module #1 Activites

Study Questions:
1. Do we learn anything about the status of blacks in Russia from "The Negro of Peter the Great" ? From Prince's "Diary"?
2. While written in the same time period, Pushkin's story is set in the early 1700s. Do you see any changes in the roles blacks play from Pushkin's account to Prince's? How do you think Pushkin's life experience may have affected his characterization of his ancestor's life?
3.What do you think Pushkin's purpose was in writing his story? Does that affect the telling of the story? How?
4.How do you think Pushkin might have ended the tale?
5. What do you think Prince's purpose was in writing (and publishing herself) her autobiography?

Reading:
Alexander Pushkin's short story, "The Negro of Peter the Great" Reading Self-checks:
1. What does Pushkin's story tell us about Ibrahim's relationship to the Tsar and his position in the Russian court?
2. Why does Ibrahim go to France?
3. What segment of society does he mingle with and how does he find life there?
4. What significant event changes Ibrahim's life in France?
5. Why does the Tsar bring Ibrahim back to Russia?
6. How is Ibrahim received upon his return? What is expected of him?
7. What does the Tsar attempt to arrange for Ibrahim?
8. How do the principle characters respond to the proposed marriage?

Reading:
Nancy Prince's Diary

Reading Self-checks:
1. How would you characterize Prince's life in the United States?
2. How does Prince end up in Russia?
3. Is Prince's life different in Russia in terms of work, family, social opportunities?
4. How is Prince received by the Tsar and his court?
5. Prince's story goes on to describe her life and work after she leaves Russia--looking at the entire work, what do you think her purpose was in writing and publishing (herself) this autobiography?

Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837)

Biographical sketch, life and works

Family

- Pictures of family
- Pushkin's geneology

Writing assignment:
Assume the voice of one of the characters. Write a journal entry that describes your feelings at the point at which the story breaks off.

Discussion forum:
1. How do you think "authorial intent" or purpose affected the telling of Pushkin's and Prince's stories?
2. What is the danger in using fiction which incorporates autobiographical material as the basis for a discussion of an author's views?
3. What is the danger in using literature to discuss social/cultural history?

Module #1 Activites
	Study Questions: 1. Do we learn anything about the status of blacks in Russia from "The Negro of Peter the Great" ? From Prince's "Diary"? 2. While written in the same time period, Pushkin's story is set in the early 1700s. Do you see any changes in the roles blacks play from Pushkin's account to Prince's? How do you think Pushkin's life experience may have affected his characterization of his ancestor's life? 3.What do you think Pushkin's purpose was in writing his story? Does that affect the telling of the story? How? 4.How do you think Pushkin might have ended the tale? 5. What do you think Prince's purpose was in writing (and publishing herself) her autobiography?
	Reading: Alexander Pushkin's short story, "The Negro of Peter the Great"	Reading Self-checks: 1. What does Pushkin's story tell us about Ibrahim's relationship to the Tsar and his position in the Russian court? 2. Why does Ibrahim go to France? 3. What segment of society does he mingle with and how does he find life there? 4. What significant event changes Ibrahim's life in France? 5. Why does the Tsar bring Ibrahim back to Russia? 6. How is Ibrahim received upon his return? What is expected of him? 7. What does the Tsar attempt to arrange for Ibrahim? 8. How do the principle characters respond to the proposed marriage?
	Reading: Nancy Prince's Diary	Reading Self-checks: 1. How would you characterize Prince's life in the United States? 2. How does Prince end up in Russia? 3. Is Prince's life different in Russia in terms of work, family, social opportunities? 4. How is Prince received by the Tsar and his court? 5. Prince's story goes on to describe her life and work after she leaves Russia--looking at the entire work, what do you think her purpose was in writing and publishing (herself) this autobiography?
	Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) Biographical sketch, life and works Family - Pictures of family - Pushkin's geneology
	Writing assignment: Assume the voice of one of the characters. Write a journal entry that describes your feelings at the point at which the story breaks off.
	Discussion forum: 1. How do you think "authorial intent" or purpose affected the telling of Pushkin's and Prince's stories? 2. What is the danger in using fiction which incorporates autobiographical material as the basis for a discussion of an author's views? 3. What is the danger in using literature to discuss social/cultural history?