Marx and Darwin versus Dostoevsky...and God

Assignments for the Week of May 2--6

"So great is the worth of Dostoevsky that to have produced him is by itself sufficient justification for the existence of the Russian people in the world: and he will bear witness for

his country-men at the last judgement of the nations."

- Nikolay Berdyaev (1923)

 



Fyodor Dostoevsky

 Monday:  Discussion of "The Death of Ivan Ilych."

Reading Assignment:  The Brothers Karamazov, Part 1, Book 1

 

Tuesday:  Terms and Background to The Communist Manifesto. 

Reading Assignment:  The Brothers Karamazov, Part 1, Book 2, Chapters 1-6

 

Wednesday:  Detour to the British Empire--Simon Schama

Reading updates and quiz

Reading Assignment:  The Brothers Karamazov, Part 1, Book 2, Chs. 7-8, Book 3, Chs. 1-3

 

Thursday:  Reports on Darwin's Origin of Species.  Handouts must be prepared before class starts.

Reading Assignment:  The Brothers Karamazov, Part 1, Book 3, Chs.  4-11 (due by the end of the week)

 

Friday: Track and Field Day. No regular classes.

Reading Assignment:  The Brothers Karamazov, Part 1--to be finished

"I think the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness."

- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

 

 

Dostoevsky's Grave in St. Petersburg

• Keep Up With the Reading of Brothers Karamazov
• Write Down Questions You Have in Your Journals
• Be Prepared to Make Journal Entries Each Day
• Be Ready for Quizes over the Reading
• Don't Come to Class Without Your Book