Ukrainian Studies

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

SLA429S Taras Shevchenko, Spring 2024


Shevchenko as Maidan icon, 2014

Class meets on Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Teefy Hall 101.



Instructor:Maxim Tarnawsky121 St. Joseph St. Alumni Hall 403
 tarn@chass.utoronto.ca 416-978–8972  


Course Description

SLA 429S offers a detailed examination of Taras Shevchenko as a poet, as a painter, as a person, and as a prophet of the Ukrainian nation. The course covers all of Shevchenko's written works: his poetry, prose, letters, diary, and drama. It also examines some of his artwork. The significance of Shevchenko in Ukrainian literature and history is shown by examining critical works about him. The primary goal of the course, however, is to read and enjoy and then to read again Shevchenko's wonderful poetry.


Graded course requirements
Item Due date Percent of Final Grade
Final Paper After Last class, Apr 4, 2024 30%
Essay 1 Feb 29, 2024 25%
Class Presentations as scheduled 20%
Attendance and Participation every week 10%
Concluding test April 4, 2024 15%

Final papers are due after the last class and must be submitted by email no later than midnight April 14, 2024. Papers are to be 6–8 pages long. They are to be typed, double spaced, and in English. Papers may be written on any topic after consulting with the instructor.

Essay 1 will be a short, three page essay on an assigned topic. The topic will be announced one week before the due date.

Class Presentations are oral reports before the class. Every week each student is required to make a brief introduction to a particular poem or section of a poem before the rest of the class. Please email the instructor with your choice of text by Tuesday, two days before class.

There will be a Concluding test held in class in the second half of our last meeting, April 4, 2024.


 


SLA429 Course Information About SLA429
Class Schedule Reading Assignments Shevchenko's self portraits.


Information on Other Courses
Other Ukrainian Courses Literature Courses Language Courses

Ukrainian Studies at the University of Toronto