International Short Story

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This class is an introduction to short story as a literary genre through a broad selection of stories, written in English or translated from other languages. Although the assigned stories are written within the last two centuries, special emphasis is put on the continuity between earlier forms of story telling (such as myths, parables, epic tales, historical tales, etc.) and the modern form now designated as “short story.” Theoretical approaches will guide our interpretation of a variety of short stories with examples from a variety of different countries and styles, which will help to broaden and deepen our understanding of the genre. In evaluating each story, particular emphasis is placed on the elements of fiction, different critical and literary approaches, and individual cultural/social/political context that shapes and is shaped by these stories. Thematic and theoretical approaches to these stories will deepen our insight into interplays of different forces at work, and open up new inquiry into notions of authorship, originality, and textuality. The main objective of the course is to develop the analytical and critical tools necessary for reading, interpreting, and discussing short stories, to appreciate the formal and thematic qualities of both Western and non-Western literary works and to learn how to identify the relationship between modes of story-telling and socio-historical and cultural contexts. Class discussion and oral reports will serve to help you acquire presentation skill while written assignments will enhance your writing and critical skills.