What is Evil: The Demons of Russian Literature (Part 1) - Thicket
What is Evil: The Demons of Russian Literature (Part 1)
Literature & Language

What is Evil: The Demons of Russian Literature (Part 1)

Russian literature is full of demons; even Satan himself shows up every now and then. But is the Devil always evil? And whencefrom come the demons, from within or from outside us? In this course we will focus on the figure of the Devil or Demons presented in different canonical texts of Russian literature. By examining the role that these figures play in each text, we will discuss how each author understood "evil," its causes, its effects, and more importantly, how to combat it. This course has three parts, but each part can be taken as a stand-alone course!
Up to 15 students
Sep 15-Sep 29 (3 Lessons)
Tue, 9:30-10:30pm UTC

Your Instructor

Paula Domingo Pasarin
Paula Domingo Pasarin

PhD Candidate in Russian Studies
Princeton University

Being an incorrigible bookworm and a night owl with a penchant for foreign languages, it was but a matter of time that I would land in some literature department. I was born in Barcelona, Spain, where I graduated with a BA in German and Russian literatures. After a few years in industry, I moved to Chicago to earn a MA in Digital Humanities from uChicago, before going back to Europe for a MPhil in Slavonic Studies at the University of Oxford. Currently, I am earning a PhD in Slavic Studies at Princeton. In my doctoral research, I focus on translation, intertextuality, Symbolism, and literature and the scenic arts. I believe that there is no better observatory of mankind than literature, and I enjoy welcoming others into that observatory.

Russian literature19th century literatureSymbolism and ModernismMysticism and literatureMessianism and EschatologyComparative literatureTranslation

What you'll learn

Master the literary strategies employed to discuss social evil and moral issues indirectly

Learn about Russia's history of ideas, with a special emphasis on its social and moral debates

Get acquainted with some of the main masterpieces of Russian literature

Discuss some of the suggested origins of evil and suffering

Course Schedule

A group of students, a summer break, a journey back home, and a little village where the students stop by to be lodged and have some food... and encounter some folk horrors. If it sounds like the beginning of any summertime horror film, it's because that's exactly what this is. Arguably one of the best known horror stories in Russian literature, "Viy" by Nikolai Gogol taps into elements of Ukrainian folklore to deliver a truly demonic experience.

What You Get

Live interactive sessions

Engage in real-time discussions with expert instructors

Small discussion groups

Up to 15 students for personalized attention

Session recordings

Review and revisit class content anytime

Dedicated platform

Track progress and organize your schedule

Frequently asked questions

Course-specific questions