Investigation of selected authors, topics, or problems. Variable subject matter; see departmental announcement for description.

This seminar examines the broad genre of short fiction by looking at a selection of texts from the nineteenth and twentieth century written by Scandinavian authors. Is it possible to trace a development of Scandinavian short prose from a historical perspective? What is the relationship between the novel and the short story? Can genre-specific structural elements be identified? What are the theoretical issues raised by the short story? The approach to Scandinavian short fiction taken in this class is both historical and aesthetic. A chronological perspective will be used to identify highlights and variations in the genre in time and space, and to understand how the cultural and literary contexts of the authors encountered inform their texts. A central concern will be the theoretical framework surrounding the short story. Knowledge of relevant critical reflection on the genre, both past and present, will inform the evaluation and analysis of textual structures and narrative techniques, and provide tools and skills for discussion.

Repeat Rules