Prisoners released from the GULAGsOpening up the arts: film, poetryReaching out to the third “non-aligned” worldBuilding of houses, movie theatresUSSR becomes a nuclear power
Freedom within limits: jazz undergroundBoris Pasternak, author of Doctor Zhivago, forced to refuse Nobel Prize
February 1956: 20th congress of the Communist Party: secret speech denouncing Stalin February 1956: 20th congress of the Communist Party: secret speech denouncing StalinStalingrad becomes VolgogradConservative faction plots against Khrushchev…
Russian tanks suppress uprising Russian tanks suppress uprising
The USSR leads in the space race…
Fidel Castro takes power in 1959 Fidel Castro takes power in 1959Becomes an ally of the USSR
16 Oct. 1962 Cuban missile crisisOctober 1964 Khrushchev removed from power – replaced by Leonid Brezhnev.Solzhenitsyn cannot print anything in the USSR.1966 Show trial of Joseph Brodsky.
Studied mathematics at Rostov UniversityMoscow Institute of Philosophy, Literature, and HistoryDuring war becomes commander of artillery, twice decorated.
9 February 1945 arrested. 9 February 1945 arrested.1945-53 eight-year term in various GULAGs.1953 internal exile “for life” in Kazahkstanю Taught mathematics and physics in schools.1954 Successfully treated for cancer in Tashkent.
1961 22nd Communist party congressSolzhenitsyn's A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich published in literary journal Novy Mir, November 1962. Matriona's Home. January 1963.
Literature must be realistic (i.e., believable) and didactic.Appeal to the newly literate masses of workers and peasants.“Party-minded” (Marxist-Leninist)Optimistic – apotheosis at end, reflecting Marxist view of history.
“Bildungsroman” – about the education of an individual with whom the reader is supposed to identify. “Bildungsroman” – about the education of an individual with whom the reader is supposed to identify.“young positive hero”of correct class background, i.e., son of worker,overcomes difficulties thanks to help of older Bolshevik, perhaps party member,triumphs over difficulties at the end and has his consciousness raised.
When are these events happening? When are these events happening? What motifs do you find significant? Why? Is the story optimistic or pessimistic? What kind of picture do we get of the Russian countryside under communism? How important is the narrator telling the story? What values does the story reflect? Does the story hint at a political program for Russia?
Didacticism: returns to tradition of “critical realism” of Tolstoy, Turgenev of 19th century Didacticism: returns to tradition of “critical realism” of Tolstoy, Turgenev of 19th centuryDidactic – but anti-Soviet
Pessimistic, treats two taboo themes: the state of the villages, and the GULAGEducation of the narrator, hence the readerThe final words sum up the moralExtols values of honesty, modesty, hard work – but in the “wrong” character
Creating a Russian national myth as opposed to the Communist international myth Creating a Russian national myth as opposed to the Communist international mythThe myth of the Russian narod: personified in the figure of Matriona…Critique of Soviet society: greed, hierarchy, corruption…
Image of village post-collectivization: decline, decay, arrogance of director.Linguistic decay of Russian language“khamstvo” with which Matriona is treated. Train and tractor destroy house: mechanization, progress vs traditional values.
Religion ReligionMoralityHard workThe Russian language= a national ideological program for Russia
from this reading?How is the story written: is it effective atconveying its message to the reader?
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