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Nabokov and World Literature HUMS 228 / LITR 202 / RUSS 260 / *WR* NABOKOV AND WORLD LITERATURE FALL 2014 MW 11:35 – 12:25 WHC SECTIONS TBA PROF. MARIJETA BOZOVIC OFFICE: 2708 HGS [email protected] TEACHING FELLOWS: AURA YOUNG aura.young@yale DARIA EZEROVA [email protected] DESCRIPTION: In 1955, Vladimir Nabokov published Lolita for the first time in Paris, with an infamous press; in 1958 he published it once more in New York. His life—and arguably the English-language and transnational novel—was never the same. By 1962, Nabokov had collaborated on the film with Stanley Kubrick; the term “lolita” had entered popular language; and by the middle of the decade, he was the most famous living writer in the world. This lecture course will begin with the novels (and films) that made Nabokov famous, then move back in time to trace the origins of the international literary legend in the young Russian émigré fleeing the Revolution. We end with a number of works of world literature inspired and haunted by Nabokov, from Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran, J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace, Orhan Pamuk’s The Museum of Innocence, to W.G. Sebald’s novel The Emigrants. We will speak of exile, memory and nostalgia; hybrid cultural identities and cosmopolitan elites; language, translation and multilingualism. All readings will be in English. REQUIREMENTS: Attendance and participation 20% Regular reading responses (Classesv2 /alternative platform) 15% Two 5-page close-reading papers 30% Final term paper (10-12 pages) 35% • You will be asked to post a short response, question, or intervention (1–2 paragraphs; other media welcome) based on the readings prior to each session. We will experiment with social media platforms as part of our ongoing collaborative attempt to enhance and extend discussion beyond the classroom—and to think about media and technology even as we try to find creative ways to use them in our academic work. • All assignments for this *WR* course are designed to help you grow significantly as a writer. The first two papers will focus on close readings and comparative analyses; you will be asked to dwell on details and interpret words or images in a creative, analytical, informed fashion. We will meet individually to discuss each of these papers, giving you plenty of feedback before you embark on the final paper, an original, researched and well-argued thesis. 1 COURSE MATERIALS: • Kubrick, Lolita (film; 1962) • Lyne, Lolita (film; 1997) • Nabokov, Lolita • Nabokov, Speak, Memory • Nabokov, Pnin • Nabokov, Pale Fire • Nabokov, Ada • Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran • Coetzee, Disgrace • Pamuk, The Museum of Innocence • Sebald, The Emigrants The underlined titles are waiting for you at the Yale Bookstore, library, or through Amazon used books; I often have an extra copy. Other materials will be available digitally via ClassesV2 or USB. SYLLABUS: Wed. Aug. 27 Nabokov, Lolita Fri. Aug. 29 Nabokov, Lolita Wed. Sep. 3 Nabokov, Lolita Mon. Sep. 8 Kubrick, Lolita (film; 1962) Wed. Sep. 10 Lyne, Lolita (film; 1997) Mon. Sep. 15 Nabokov, Speak, Memory Wed. Sep. 17 Nabokov, Speak, Memory Mon. Sep. 22 Nabokov, Speak, Memory Wed. Sep. 24 Nabokov, Speak, Memory * Fri. Sep. 26 first papers due via email by 3pm * Mon. Sep. 29 Nabokov, Pnin Wed. Oct. 1 Nabokov, Pnin Mon. Oct. 6 Nabokov, Pale Fire Wed. Oct. 8 Nabokov, Pale Fire Mon. Oct. 13 Nabokov, Pale Fire Wed. Oct. 15 Nabokov, Ada Mon. Oct. 20 Nabokov, Ada Mon. Oct. 27 Nabokov, Ada Wed. Oct. 29 Nabokov, Ada * Fri. Oct. 31 second papers due via email by 6pm * 2 Mon. Nov. 3 Nafisi, Lolita in Tehran Wed. Nov. 5 Nafisi, Lolita in Tehran Mon. Nov. 10 Coetzee, Disgrace Wed. Nov. 12 Coetzee, Disgrace Mon. Nov. 17 Pamuk, Museum of Innocence Wed. Nov. 19 Pamuk, Museum of Innocence Mon. Dec. 1 Sebald, The Emigrants Wed. Dec. 3 Sebald, The Emigrants * Fri. Dec. 5 final papers by 6pm * 3 .
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