Eloquence
English Literature Courses
Being a prominent writer myself I can see on a very deep level how pieces of prose are made, what they have and lack, even what a writer felt. I use my own approach to reading called 'dispersion hypothesis' which helps understate relationships between author, narrator, narratee, and reader.
I prepared four courses each offering a different scope of tasks, ranging from creative writing to studying Japanese culture and colonialism.
Classes have different emphasis ranging from more creative-writingy and literary to anthropological and historical; as well as the focus on the English language shifts according to the level of groups and number of people attending.
Being a prominent writer myself I can see on a very deep level how pieces of prose are made, what they have and lack, even what a writer felt. I use my own approach to reading called 'dispersion hypothesis' which helps understate relationships between author, narrator, narratee, and reader.
I prepared four courses each offering a different scope of tasks, ranging from creative writing to studying Japanese culture and colonialism.
Classes have different emphasis ranging from more creative-writingy and literary to anthropological and historical; as well as the focus on the English language shifts according to the level of groups and number of people attending.
Photograph by Elinor Carucci for The New Yorker from the 'Cat Person' s NY webpage
How to write a New Yorker short story
This course is based on a deep reading of a famous New Yorker short story 'Cat Person' by Kristen Roupenian which became viral and emblematic of a well-crafted piece of literature. We will look at all levels of art: axiological, teleological, ideological, semantical, symbolic as well as the level of detailing, narratives, creative writing techniques and using literary sources. As a result you will be able to read and comprehend modern literature better, and as an extension you will try to compose your own short story step by step.
The course was read at the Central Library of Saint-Petersburg in 2019-2020.
Aim
The main objective of this course is to develop skills of deep reading and crafting a short story. Secondary aims include getting to know better different levels of a literary piece; plot devices; narrative strategies. Extracurricularly try to write a short story by oneself step by step.
Plan
Terms
Must read the text beforehand (even though we will read it again)
Group (90 min) or individual (60) classes
This course is based on a deep reading of a famous New Yorker short story 'Cat Person' by Kristen Roupenian which became viral and emblematic of a well-crafted piece of literature. We will look at all levels of art: axiological, teleological, ideological, semantical, symbolic as well as the level of detailing, narratives, creative writing techniques and using literary sources. As a result you will be able to read and comprehend modern literature better, and as an extension you will try to compose your own short story step by step.
The course was read at the Central Library of Saint-Petersburg in 2019-2020.
Aim
The main objective of this course is to develop skills of deep reading and crafting a short story. Secondary aims include getting to know better different levels of a literary piece; plot devices; narrative strategies. Extracurricularly try to write a short story by oneself step by step.
Plan
- Preparation (Reading the text)
- Lesson 1 How to create foundation for your text: ideology, axiology, etc; reading aloud the first literary source and finding connections
- Homework Writing a plan; listening to Cat Person read by the author
- Lesson 2 How to grasp the reader's attention, Reading of the second literary source
- Homework
- Lesson 3 How to use literary sources; Reading of the third source
- Homework
- Lesson 4 Narrative strategies; reading examples
- Homework
- Lesson 5 How to work with details and embellishments
- Final test
- Lesson 6 Optional
Terms
Must read the text beforehand (even though we will read it again)
Group (90 min) or individual (60) classes
The original cover of the novel
Generations lost and found
This course is based around one the greatest novels of the twentieth century 'The Sun Also Rises' by Ernest Hemingway. It is the key text of the 'lost generation' phenomenon and absolutely essential for understanding the evolution of modern literature. Hemingway and his famous style shaped the way people wrote about life, death, war and love. We will take a look at the background, Hemingway biography, literary sources and philosophical foundations for the work, also thanks to the new edition of the novel we will have a unique opportunity to see several drafts and look inside the author's process. Additionally we will discuss the main theme of the novel – the generation gap, different approaches to studying it as well as problems generations face and conflicts between them.
Aim
The main objective of this course is to get acquainted with the works and method of one the most influential authors of the twentieth century, using the supplementary materials we will thy to look at a masterpiece at creation. The secondary aims are to learn more about the generation theory; history of literature of the 20 century as well as the history of the between-wars Europe and America.
Plan
Must read the texts beforehand (even though we will read it again) - may be in your native tongue
This course is based around one the greatest novels of the twentieth century 'The Sun Also Rises' by Ernest Hemingway. It is the key text of the 'lost generation' phenomenon and absolutely essential for understanding the evolution of modern literature. Hemingway and his famous style shaped the way people wrote about life, death, war and love. We will take a look at the background, Hemingway biography, literary sources and philosophical foundations for the work, also thanks to the new edition of the novel we will have a unique opportunity to see several drafts and look inside the author's process. Additionally we will discuss the main theme of the novel – the generation gap, different approaches to studying it as well as problems generations face and conflicts between them.
Aim
The main objective of this course is to get acquainted with the works and method of one the most influential authors of the twentieth century, using the supplementary materials we will thy to look at a masterpiece at creation. The secondary aims are to learn more about the generation theory; history of literature of the 20 century as well as the history of the between-wars Europe and America.
Plan
- Preparation (Reading the text)
- Lecture 1 Biography of Hemingway. WWI and the post-war Paris, La Belle Epoque. French roots in the English Language, how to pronounce French words.
- Practical Class 1 Reading 'A Movable Feast'
- Lecture 2 Literary process before and at the time of Hemingway, Introspection, Russian and American Literature, Roaring 20s.
- Practical Class 2 Reading 'Up In Michigan' and from 'Winesburg, Ohio' By Sherwood Anderson (optional Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy)
- Lecture 3 Roman-a-clef – how to mix facts and fiction. How to find inspiration. Introduction to narratives and different narrative strategies.
- Practical class 3 Reading 'A Movable Feast'
- Practical class 4 Reading 'The Sun Also Rises' and Ecclesiastes.
- Lecture 4 PTSD and some aspects of Psychology. How upbringing has changed. Maturation.
- Practical class 5 and 6 Reading 'The Sun Also Rises' and comparing with early drafts
- Discussion 1 'Generation Gaps – inevitability or not'
- Discussion 2 'The problems our generation faces'
Must read the texts beforehand (even though we will read it again) - may be in your native tongue
Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views (Zashiki hakkei) ca. 1766
Suzuki Harunobu Japanese
From the Met
Suzuki Harunobu Japanese
From the Met
the Floating World (s)
This course is centered around recent Nobel laureate in literature – Kazuo Ishiguro and his second novel 'An Artist of the Floating World'. We are going to look into his style and specific narrative strategy. We will see how authors can work with matters and devise particular approaches to present it. To support it we will also take a look at the Booker Prize winner of 2014 Richard Flanagan's 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' and try to analyse problems of political and historical memory. Additionally we will speak about Japanese art especially ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) and classical haiku as well as general aspects of Japanese history and culture.
Aim
The main objective of this course is to get acquainted with one of the most elegant English writers, learn about history of literature and how it works with current world problems. The secondary objectives are to learn about the history and culture of Japan, learn about a new field of knowledge – politics of memory and how collective memories are managed.
Plan
Must read the texts beforehand (even though we will read it again) – may be in your native tongue
This course is centered around recent Nobel laureate in literature – Kazuo Ishiguro and his second novel 'An Artist of the Floating World'. We are going to look into his style and specific narrative strategy. We will see how authors can work with matters and devise particular approaches to present it. To support it we will also take a look at the Booker Prize winner of 2014 Richard Flanagan's 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' and try to analyse problems of political and historical memory. Additionally we will speak about Japanese art especially ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) and classical haiku as well as general aspects of Japanese history and culture.
Aim
The main objective of this course is to get acquainted with one of the most elegant English writers, learn about history of literature and how it works with current world problems. The secondary objectives are to learn about the history and culture of Japan, learn about a new field of knowledge – politics of memory and how collective memories are managed.
Plan
- Preparation (Reading the text)
- Reading and Lecture 1 Narrator and Narratee – narrative strategies; vague and translucent writing – how to speak about something you don't know.
- Reading and Lecture 2 Structure of a novel; structural elements – paratext and text; plot devices.
- Lecture 3 Ukiyo-e, Pictures of the floating world; an introduction to the Japanese art and the history of Japan.
- Reading 3 Haiku. Religious text and Metatexts
- Lecture 4 The History of WW2, the Pacific War; the Atrocities; Victors and losers. Memory politics.
- Reading 4 and 5 (Style and Translucency, Explicit and Implicit Author) An Artist of the Floating World
- Lecture 5 Post-colonial literature – subject and problems
- Reading 6 (Style and Register) The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Discussion Does an author have a right to depict something they haven't witnessed.
Must read the texts beforehand (even though we will read it again) – may be in your native tongue
as of april 2021
