paper uk1: an introduction to the language, literature, and culture of ukraine
'Ukraine is a country that is "in between" in all possible ways,' according to the Ukrainian intellectual Mykola Riabchuk. This paper introduces you to the rich language, literature, and culture of Ukraine and seizes upon the 'in-betweenness' of the second largest country in Europe - the historical permeability of its territorial, linguistic, and ethnic borders - as an opportunity to explore the interdependency of the cultures of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
Ukrainian, spoken by over 40 million people around the world, is the official state language of Ukraine. For centuries its very existence was under threat from Russian Imperial and Soviet authorities; today, from the cafes of L'viv to the boulevards of Kyiv and Odesa, it is experiencing a revival. This paper offers an introduction to the fundamentals of Ukrainian designed for those with very little or no knowledge of the language. Through twice-weekly classes during the academic year, you will learn the principal grammar structures and vocabulary so as to acquire a basic proficiency in reading and speaking Ukrainian.
The literature and visual culture of Ukraine will be the focus of weekly lectures and fortnightly supervisions. The first part of the paper will trace the development of modern Ukrainian literature in the nineteenth century from the burlesque travesty of Kotliarevs'kyi and his epigones to the passionate romanticism of Shevchenko. The second part will chart the reverberations of what might be called the 'Shevchenko effect' - the resounding call for a commitment to national culture - in Ukrainian letters from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
Key works include:
• Ivan Kotliarevs'kyi, Eneïda / Aeneid
• Nikolai Gogol', Evenings on a Farmstead near Dikanka
• Taras Shevchenko, Try lita / Three Years
• Ol'ha Kobylians'ka, Valse mélancholique
• Mykola Khvyl'ovyi, Val'dshnepy / The Woodcocks
• Iurii Andrukhovych, Rekreatsiï / Recreations
This paper is open to students of all Departments of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and available in both Part IB and Part II. At Part IB the paper is available both to former post-A-level students and to former beginners. No previous knowledge of Ukrainian is expected or required.
Course Adviser: Rory Finnin
