Time Schedule:
Naomi B. Sokoloff
NEAR E 325
Seattle Campus
Major developments in Hebrew literature from the Enlightenment to the current Israeli literature.
Class description
This survey of modern Hebrew literature and its major developments in the past 100 years includes selections of fiction and poetry by a range of authors from Europe, Israel and the U.S. even though more and more of this writing has become available in English in recent years, few American readers have appreciated the distinctiveness of modern Hebrew literature. This course aims to illuminate some of the factors that make this literature unusual and fascinating: the polyglot contexts that have had formative impact on literary expression in Hebrew; the longevity of Hebrew itself - a language that has been in continuous literary use over millennia; and the dramatic historical circumstances and ideological forces that fostered the revival of the language and shaped Hebrew literary endeavors up through curent times.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Small lecture/Discussion.
Recommended preparation
No previous knowledge of Israeli culture required.
Class assignments and grading
Students will be assigned three 2-page papers (summaries of and response to readings) plus a take-home essay exam. A term paper may be substituted for the essay exam, by permission of instructor. Short papers: 30%; take-home essays or term paper - 70%.
