Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (MLLL)

The department offers courses which are slashlisted so undergraduate students may take an undergraduate 4000-level course while graduate students may take a graduate 5000-level course. The lectures in a slashlisted course are the same. However, students in the 5000-level course have substantial additional requirements beyond those for students in the 4000-level course. These additional requirements are listed in the slashlisted course syllabus.

2003 Introduction to World Literature. Introduction to idea and practice of comparative literature study. Focus will be on a particular body of literature (e.g., Italian post-WWII fiction, French-Canadian poetry of the nineteenth century, etc.) as shaped by other cultures and literature. Texts will be in original language and translation. (Irreg.) [IV-WC]

3000 Literature in Translation. May be repeated with change of subject matter; maximum credit nine hours. Appreciation and analysis of poetry, novel, prose, drama, or film translated into English. (F, Su)

3043 Mythology and Folklore. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission. Readings in folktales and myths from cultures around the world, with a focus on narrative structures and the role of the storyteller. Involves weekly reading and weekly writing assignments and a semester-log research project published on the internet. (No previous web publishing experience is required.) (F, Sp) [IV-WC]

3063 Survey of Jewish Literature from Antiquity to the Present. Prerequisite: junior standing. Provides a survey of Jewish literature from the Hebrew Bible to contemporary American literature, presented as a journey in which stops will be made at important places, covering all significant periods, genres and prominent writers. (F)

3073 The Hebrew Bible as Literature. Prerequisite: junior standing. Provides a survey of Jewish literature from the Hebrew Bible to contemporary American literature, presented as a journey in which stops will be made at important places, covering all significant periods, genres and prominent writers. (F)

3113 Business Chinese. Prerequisite: 2113 or permission. Designed for students interested in, but with no or limited skill or knowledge of, Mandarin Chinese. Basically conversational, focusing on oral communicative skill of the language, with limited introduction to and learning of Chinese characters. Vocabulary will include terminology, common expressions, and structures used in business settings. (F, Sp)

3123 Russian Culture and Civilization. Considers the historical and cultural heritage of Russia through a study of its geography, history, religion, language, literature and the fine arts. Allows students to appreciate the global perspectives and cultural diversity. [IV-WC]

3133 Soviet and Post-Soviet Cinema. Prerequisite: junior standing. Familiarizes students with the history of film in the Soviet Union , from the silent movies of its beginnings to its manifestation at the present time. No previous knowledge of the Russian language is required. Russian social and political issues explored through film. (F, Su)

3143 Dostoevsky and His Age. Prerequisite: junior standing. Examination of the life and literary works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, with special attention to the role the writer played in Russian and Western intellectual history. Reading assignments will include Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and several shorter works, all in English translation. (Irreg.) [IV-WC]

3153 Russian Literature through Film . Prerequisite: junior standing. Students analyze classic Russian literary texts and the films that they have inspired. This course focuses on the problem of cinematic adaptation. No previous knowledge of the Russian Language is required. (F, Su)

3163 Chekhov. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission. An introduction to Anton’s Chekhov’s work in translation. Both short stories and plays will be read, studying their narrative structure, plot devices, character development, themes, and other elements, while placing Chekhov’s work in its historical, cultural, and political context. Excerpts of various screen adaptations of his plays will also be viewed. (F)

3173 Nabokov. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission. An introduction to Vladimir Nabokov’s work in English, including works translated from Russian as well as texts originally written in English. Focus will be on Nabokov’s Novels; although, some short stories and poems will be included. The main methodology will center on applying the techniques of close textual analysis, while placing Nabokov’s work in its historical, cultural, and political context. (F)

3183 Tolstoy: Writer, Thinker, Social Critic. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor. Introduction to Leo Tolstoy’s work in translation. Traces Tolstoy’s development as a writer of short stories, novels, and works of non-fiction. The writer’s biography and significant aspects of nineteenth-century Russian society will inform discussions of Tolstoy’s works, placing them in a broader context. In addition, students will explore Tolstoy’s evolving religious, philosophical, and social ideas, as well as his legacy in Russia and throughout the world. (Irreg.)

3213 Japanese Theater and Performance. Prerequisite: junior standing. A survey of performance traditions in Japan ranging from rituals to dance and theatre, from ancient to contemporary. Explores the role of theatre in society and the relation between performance style and daily behavior. (F) [IV-NW]

3223 Japan through Film and Literature. Prerequisite: junior standing. Introduces Japanese post-war society and culture with emphasis on 1945 to the present, as reflected in film and literature. Students will examine essential issues, including class, family, gender, work, education, and minorities, paying attention to the struggles between traditional cultural values and modern society. (Irreg.) [IV-NW]

3303 The World of Dante. Prerequisite: Junior standing and English 1213. In this course students will engage in a close reading of a fundamental text in the western literary tradition: Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The course will also consider one of Dante’s minor works, the Vita Nuova, as well as the modern critical readings of Dante’s writing and thought. In lectures, special attention will be paid to the historical, political, literary and intellectual context of Dante’s poetry and thought. Students will also be asked to contribute to the classroom atmosphere by responding to questions and participating in discussions. (Irreg.) [IV-WC]

3313 Introduction to Italian Literature and Culture. Prerequisite: English 1213 or EXPO 1213. Interdisciplinary approach to literature, culture, and history of the Italian peninsula, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Through major works of literature, political science, the visual arts, music, and cinema, students will set Italy’s variegated literary and cultural expressions in their social and historical contexts. (F)

3373 Italian Cinema. Prerequisite:  Junior standing and English 1213.  The aim of this course is to develop interpretive skills relevant to the study of Italian cinema by examining some of its most significant films.  More specifically, we will analyze the ways in which Italian society is portrayed and typified in Italian cinema.  We will cover the major film movements and periods, from "cinema muto" to Neorealism, from "commedia all‘Italiana" to the Italian horror genre and to the most recent works made by contemporary directors. (Irreg.)

3413 Arabic Literature and Culture. Prerequisite: junior standing. A survey of Arabic literature tradition and cultural history from the 4th century to the present. Covers themes and genres of the cultural heritage of Arabic-Islamic civilization, continuities and discontinuities between the classical and modern period, and background political and social changes. (F) [IV-NW]

3423 Western Visions of the East/12th -21st Century. Prerequisite: junior standing. This course examines Western European representations of the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia from the Middle Ages to today. The aim is to consider how western culture constructs the Oriental Other in poetry, prose, drama, and film. Edward Said’s "Orientalism" will serve as the critical foundation for the course. (F) [IV-WC]

3433 Arab Culture and Society Through Modern Fiction. Prerequisite:  junior standing. This course introduces a broad range of themes and issues of modern Arabic culture and society, such as religion, family, gender, identity, emigration, colonialism, resistance, nationalism, freedom of expression, corruption, and war. (Irreg.)

3453 The World of the Arabian Nights. Prerequisite: junior standing. This course explores the most famous literary product of the Arabo-Islamic civilization. It examines the work's structural narrative techniques, characters, settings and themes as well as the various aspects of its cultural and social milieu. In addition, the course examines the western perception of the Orient from the 18th century to today and the reception of the work in the Medieval period and in the present Arab world. (Irreg.)

3523 Survey of Russian Literature to 1917 in Translation. Prerequisite: junior standing. Reading, analysis and discussion of key works of Russian 19th century literature, including the major novels, plays, and poetry selections in English translation. This course does not satisfy the third semester Arts and Sciences language requirement. (F)

3533 Survey of Russian Literature from 1917 in Translation. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Representative works of Soviet and post-Soviet literature are read and discussed. Selections of prose and poetry chosen from among symbolists, acmeists, futurists, populists, modernists, and post-modernists. This course does not satisfy the third semester Arts and Sciences language requirement. (Sp)

3543 The Petersburg Myth and Text/The City in Russian Culture. Prerequisite: junior standing. The role and significance of the city of St. Petersburg in Russian culture by examining its literary image and myth. All readings and discussions in English. (Irreg.)

3573 Arthurian Legend and Literature (Crosslisted with English 3573). Examination of the legend of King Arthur in European literature. Concentrate first on the historical Arthur, followed by major portion of semester on the medieval and modern literary texts concerning Arthur and the Round Table. All texts will be read in English translation. [IV-WC]

3623 Pre-Modern Japanese Literature and Culture. Prerequisite: Junior standing. A survey of Japanese literature from ancient time to the Meiji restoration. Covers prominent works of poetry and prose in English translation. Students are introduced to traditional genres, themes, rhetorical device and aesthetics, as well as socio-historical context of literary production. (Irreg.)

3633 Modern Japanese Literature and Culture. Prerequisite: junior standing. A survey of Japanese literature from the Meiji restoration (1868) onward, with attention to social, political, and cultural issues as well as literary theory. Topics will include Japan's "westernization," "naturalism," proletarian literature movements, early post-war literature, and the "third new generation writers." (Sp) [IV-NW]

3753 Modern Chinese Literature and Culture. Prerequisite: junior standing. Students will read Chinese literary texts in English translation and learn about the historical, political, social, and cultural contexts in which they were produced. (Sp) [IV-NW]

3823 German Culture and Thought. Prerequisite: junior standing. Introduces major themes in German cultural history and analytical tools students can bring to the further study of German and/or other European literatures and cultures in translation. Specific topics may vary. (F) [IV-WC]

3843 Twentieth-Century European Culture and Identity. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offers and overview of twentieth-century European culture and identity. Students are made aware of a culture and people different from the United States. In an attempt to understand what makes Europe a unique entity, we will examine how political, social, and economic forces and events in Europe relate to cultural ideas and artistic productions. (F) [IV-WC]

3853 The Rise of Romanticism. Prerequisite: Honors’ standing. Study of the rise of Romanticism by reading European literary, theoretical, and philosophical texts with emphasis on material from particular Romantic movements. Education, changing relationships and gender will be given consideration. (Irreg.) [IV-WC]

3943 German Cinema. Prerequisite: junior standing. This course will provide an overview of German cinema throughout the 20th century, with a focus on the cinematic representation of national identity and gender identity in Germany . We will examine the impact of shifting political structures on film production throughout German history, as well as influential theories of German national cinema. (F)

3960 Honors Reading. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: admission to Honors Program. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Will consist of topics designated by the instructor in keeping with the student's major program. The topics will cover materials not usually presented in the regular courses. (F, Sp)

4003 Movements in World Literature (Crosslisted with English 4003). Prerequisite: junior standing. May be repeated with change of subject matter; maximum credit nine hours. Focuses on texts within a literary movement (literature other than canonical American or British). Also attention to critical and theoretical questions about concepts such as genre, nation, national building, national identity, etc. (Irreg.) [IV-WC]

4063 Early Literary Criticism (Slashlisted with 5063). Prerequisite: junior standing and English 1213. Establishes a solid critical foundation of aesthetics that will enable graduate and advanced undergraduate students to deal with fundamental ideas; aesthetic and social. Emphasis on rhetoric and discourse during the second part of the semester will also enable all students to write strategically and develop effective communication skills. No student may earn credit for both 4063 and 5063. (F)

4113 Luso-Brazilian Civilization. Prerequisite: minimum of 30 hours earned. Taught in English. An introduction to Luso-Brazilian cultural history and literatures through a series of readings and films. The course begins with the poetry of Luis de Camões and the discovery of Brazil, and ends with the impact of European immigrants in the 20th century on the literature and music of Brazil. (Sp) [IV-WC]

4123 Culture of Afro-Brazilian Popular Music. rerequisite: junior standing. The development of five centuries of Afro-Brazilian music from the experience of slavery during Brazil's colonial beginnings to the emergence of contemporary styles. Special attention will be paid to the use of musical and other popular cultural forms in social protest, politics, and the crisis of violence in contemporary Brazil. (Sp) [IV-NWC]

4173 Introduction to Francophone Literatures in Translation (Slashlisted with MLLL 5173. Prerequisite: senior standing. Examines the literary, social, and political issues forefronted by the Francophone literatures of West Africa, the Caribbean, and Polynesian Islands, Maghreb (chiefly Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco), and Quebec. (Sp) [IV-NW]

4183 Contemporary Japanese Drama. Prerequisite: Junior standing. A survey of major contemporary Japanese plays and playwrights and the theatrical groups that supported and disseminated them from 1945 to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on the changing social-cultural context of the postwar theater. (Irreg.)

4443 Exploring Music in Literature: Poetry and Drama of Lorca. Prerequisite: junior standing. Explores the relationships that exist between music and literature in Lorca, including Spanish folksong, Flamenco as a socio-cultural phenomenon, focusing on ethnic identity, and contemporary orchestral compositions. (Irreg.) [IV-WC]

4663 Gender and Cross-Cultural Issues in Eastern European Women's Writing. Prerequisite: junior standing. Exploration of gender issues in cultures in flux and ideologies in turmoil through lectures, discussions, film screenings, journal writing, and small group work. Texts, both written and visual, are examined within literary, historical and sociological contexts. (Sp) [IV-WC]

4753 Language, Culture and Cognition. Prerequisite: junior standing. Cognitive science holds that the human mind is inherently embodied and abstract concepts are largely metaphorical. This course will introduce the cognitive view of metaphor and how it plays a critical role in language and cognition in the cultural context. Also pursues a cross-linguistic and cross-cultural perspective on the study of languages as a window into cognition and culture. (Irreg.)

G4813 Techniques of Teaching a Foreign Language. An overview of the basic theoretical aspects which affect teaching and learning in foreign language education. Analysis of current methods and materials, with emphasis on the development of appropriate skills to put those methods into practice. (F)

G4823 Foreign Language in the Elementary School. Prerequisite: 4813; both courses may be taken concurrently. Special problems associated with teaching foreign languages in the elementary school; FLES and FLEX programs, immersion programs, content-based instruction; communicative teaching.

4950 Special Topics in World Literature Today (Crosslisted with English 4950). 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: English 1213 and permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit six hours. In-depth study of selected contemporary international writers/jurors who visit campus as part of the Neustadt and/or Puterbaugh symposiums for world literature today. (Irreg.)

4970 Seminar. 1 to 4 hours. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit six hours. Varied topics in literature in English translation. (Irreg.)

4993 Epics of India: Ramayana and Mahabarata . Prerequisite: junior standing. Reading of the two great epics of India. Special attention will be paid to narrative structure and the role of the storyteller. The course involves extensive weekly reading along with weekly writing assignments and a semester-long research project which students will publish on the internet (no previous web publishing experience is required. (Sp) [IV-NW]

G5063 Early Literary Criticism (Slashlisted with 4063). Prerequisite: graduate standing. Establishes a solid critical foundation of aesthetics that will enable graduate and advanced undergraduate students to deal with fundamental ideas; aesthetic and social. Emphasis on rhetoric and discourse during the second part of the semester will also enable all students to write strategically and develop effective communication skills. No student may earn credit for both 4063 and 5063. (F)

G5073 Contemporary Literary Criticism. An introduction to contemporary linguistic, psychoanalytic and sociological literary theory and criticism. Readings and discussions will include questions of methodology and will demonstrate how these methods can be applied to particular texts. (Sp)

G5910 Problems in Research. 2 to 4 hours. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit fours hours. An individual course of intensive research with the area and problem to be determined by the student and directing instructor. (Irreg.)

G5920 Field Research in Foreign Education. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: 5833. Classroom oriented field research on the use of various methods of teaching foreign language in the classroom. Possible topics include aspects of language acquisition, evaluation, proficiency, communicative methods in foreign language education. (F, Sp, Su)

Updated: April 15, 2009