In 1999, aged eighteen, I read 'The Brothers Karamazov' by Dostoevsky. I read this novel in Burundi, where I witnessed the suffering of others. The country's basic problem was civil war, which is best described in this terse note: "Rwanda, the sequel. Same story, different location. Nobody cares." The well-publicised problems in Rwanda in 1994 didn't end, they went next-door. The only thing separating the problems of those two countries was the most heavily landmined stretch of road on the planet. It was on this road, which was littered with the remains of vehicles and people, that I experienced the immediacy of 'the problem of evil'.I had hoped that the book I held in my hands on those lifetime-long hours on the road would resonate with my experience. Ivan Karamazov's accusation of the God who creates a world of atrocities seemed fuelled by an unflinching look at senseless, disteleological suffering. I had hoped that Ivan, with his face turned against God, could countenance the horror I saw. Karamazov's stance has been seen as the antithesis of theodicy, which is the attempt to reconcile faith in God with the existence of evil. This antithesis seems to overcome the distance between the experience of real suffering and the account of that suffering given by academic theodicy. Ultimately, however, that distance remains. Dostoevsky's protagonist in his railing against God connects no more with the victims in this world than a writer of theodicy does with her defence of God.

The primary goal of this paper is to investigate the phenomenon of a dream, a desire, or an idea transpiring in the thoughts of an individual, growing in importance to the individual, and finally becoming an idée fixe, or irresistible idea, which cannot be suppressed by the individual. The investigation will be concerned with the two of Dostoevsky's heroes who best exemplify the phenomenon.

ТITLE The Concept of Childhood in Fyodor Sologub's prose ABSTRACT: This Master thesis deals with the topic of childhood in prose works of the Russian writer, novelist and teacher Fyodor Sologub. The research presents his biography, traces the development of his personality, as well as his perception of the world and interests. It focuses on the events, which determined the extent and significance of the chosen topic for Sologub. There are also revealed lesser known facts of his childhood that influenced his choice of the topics and its embodiment in his literary works. The writer's biography is complemented by the views of critics and contemporaries who studied his works and shaped public opinion. The main topics of the analysis are: dualistic vision of the world, children's death, faith in God, children's patriotism. The ideal world of children is presented in the novel The Created Legend. The thesis also reveals the popularity of the topic of childhood in other 19th and 20th century writers' oeuvre in comparative analysis with Sologub's work. It also depicts the importance of two literary movements - symbolism and decadence, their representative Sologub was. The questions raised by Sologub remain relevant to the present day. KEY WORDS: Russian literature, F. Sologub, Symbolism, Decadence, Childhood

Esta pesquisa é composta de uma tradução do original em russo da novela Uma anedota desagradável, de Fiódor Dostoiévski, publicada em 1862 na revista Vriêmia, seguida de um breve comentário sobre ela. Para o estudo do texto considerou-se que seu tema está relacionado com artigos publicados pelo escritor, em que ele expõe as suas observações acerca da intelliguentsia e da sociedade russa da época. No que se refere ao tratamento dado ao tema, o escritor empregou amplamente recursos associados ao universo grotesco, como o riso e a paródia, tanto para a descrição das personagens como para a narração dos acontecimentos. / This research is composed of a translation from the Russian novella An unpleasant anecdot, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, published in 1862 in the periodic Vriemia, followed by a brief commentary about the periodic. To the study of the text was considered that the theme is related to the articles published by the author, on which he exposes his observations about the intelliguentsia and the Russian society of that time. Regarding the treatment given to the theme, the writer largely used resources associated to the grotesque universe, like the laughter and the parody, as to the description of the characters as well as to the narration of the events.

Stellvertretung represents a consistent and central hermeneutic for Bonhoeffer. This thesis demonstrates that, in contrast to other translations, a more precise interpretation of Bonhoeffer's use of Stellvertretung would be 'vicarious suffering'. For Bonhoeffer Stellvertretung as 'vicarious suffering' illuminates not only the action of God in Christ for the sins of the world, but also Christian discipleship as participation in Christ's suffering for others; to be as Christ: Schuldübernahme. In this understanding of Stellvertretung as vicarious suffering Bonhoeffer demonstrates independence from his Protestant (Lutheran) heritage and reflects an interpretation that bears comparison with broader ecumenical understanding. This study of Bonhoeffer's writings draws attention to Bonhoeffer's critical affection towards Catholicism and highlights the theological importance of vicarious suffering during a period of renewal in Catholic theology, popular piety and fictional literature. Although Bonhoeffer references fictional literature in his writings, and indicates its importance in ethical and theological discussion, there has been little attempt to analyse or consider its contribution to Bonhoeffer's theology. This thesis fills this lacuna in its consideration of the reception by Bonhoeffer of the writings of Georges Bernanos, Reinhold Schneider and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Each of these writers features vicarious suffering, or its conceptual equivalent, as an important motif. According to Bonhoeffer Christian discipleship is the action of vicarious suffering (Stellvertretung) and of Verantwortung (responsibility) in love for others and of taking upon oneself the Schuld that burdens the world.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree. of Master of Arts in Russian Studies. Joharmesburq, 1995 / This thesis undertakes to examine the interdependence of ideology and literary scholarship, in particular regarding the legacy of F.M. Dostoevsky, in the Soviet Union; and to investigate the reflection of political and ideological agenda in Soviet literary criticism's interpretations of Dostoevsky's novel, The Devils during the era of glasnost, 1985-1991. I shall isolate, identify and describe the principal, ideological trends reflected in literary critiques and analyses of this novel, published in the Soviet Union during this specific period of time. My thesis will build on and develop previous research conducted around the analysis of Ideological trends in the Soviet Union through a study of literature and official literary criticism. Western commentators, such as B J.Simmons,V. Seduro, and H. Mondry have demonstrated the correlation between. general shifts in Party domestic and international policy and the ideological viewpoints expressed in literature and literary criticism. They have found it to be a valid practice to analyse certain political, social and ideological factors in the Soviet Union through a close study of literature and literary criticism. In continuing this research, I shall demonstrate that Soviet literary criticism during glasnost could still be regarded as a mirror of political and ideological changes in society, and that Soviet criticism's interpretations of Dostoevsky's The Devils could once again be used to help distinguish, delineate and clarify the ideological trends that existed in Soviet Society during this era. I shall begin my analysis with a consideration of the effects of Gorbachev's glasnost reforms on Soviet culture in general, and on literary cd]~'cal practice in particular; and of the role that literary criticism played in Soviet society during this area. I shall then proceed to a brief historical overview of interpretations of The Devils by Russian and Soviet literary critics, from its publication until the eve of the glasnost reforms, This will demonstrate both the manner in which literary criticism has mirrored Ideological trends in the USSR, and the validity of centring my research on this novel. From there, I shall turn to an examination of how interpretations Offered by Soviet literary critics of The Devils, as well as attitudes expressed by them regarding the writer's world outlook, reflected the ideological trends that existed In Soviet society during glasnost. The interpretations to be analysed will be taken from a broad range of Soviet literary periodicals, mono graphs, and discussions, published in the Soviet Union between 1985 and 1992

Ce mémoire de maîtrise vise avant tout à réintégrer Le double de Dostoïevski au sein du corpus fantastique dont l'interprétation critique l'a souvent exclu, préférant souvent le décrire comme un roman social à teneur psychopathologique. Nous établissons d'abord, dans le premier chapitre, une comparaison entre un grand nombre d'études produites sur ce récit, principalement à propos de la psychologie du personnage, du style de l'oeuvre et de son caractère fantastique. Cette approche dialectique met en relief l'absence d'unanimité et même d'impressionnantes dissensions dans l'interprétation, tout en permettant de pointer du doigt les lacunes de chaque analyse: l'ambiguïté de l'oeuvre apparaît alors comme le principal élément pouvant expliquer un si grand nombre d'hypothèses différentes. Dans le second chapitre, nous présentons ensuite les différentes théories du fantastique littéraire, définissant ce dernier par l'effet de lecture déroutant qu'il peut entraîner devant des éléments d'indétermination non résolus dans un texte: l'effet fantastique peut naître chez celui qui accepte de s'abandonner à sa lecture et de prendre plaisir à l'indétermination sans chercher à interpréter trop rapidement lors de son premier contact avec l'oeuvre. Nous relevons comment l'ambiguïté narrative, fréquemment incarnée par une figure de double dans le corpus fantastique, est un procédé stylistique qui facilite l'émergence de cet effet en proposant simultanément deux ou plusieurs hypothèses concurrentes à une même question. Nous étudions enfin dans le troisième chapitre les occurrences d'ambiguïté et d'autres éléments d'indétermination dans Le double, dans une analyse qui demeure très près du texte, pour montrer que ce dernier résiste à l'interprétation et qu'aucune étude ne peut donc prétendre établir sa signification de façon absolue. Une réflexion sur la traduction nous permet de confirmer ces hypothèses en observant comment la lecture du traducteur influence inévitablement le lectorat de la langue de destination: l'ambiguïté est préservée ou non dans l'oeuvre traduite selon la manière dont cet individu réagit à l'indétermination de l'original. Nous croyons fortement que l'analyse d'un récit fantastique, de même que l'élimination des parties trop floues lors d'une traduction, visent avant tout, pour ceux qui les produisent, à mettre fin au sentiment d'étrangeté qu'ils éprouvent devant une oeuvre qui déroute et refuse d'être résolue. Notre mémoire permet donc de conserver, au coeur même de la réflexion critique sur Le double, un discours sur l'émotion susceptible d'être ressentie lors de sa lecture, ce que la réception journalistique et universitaire tend à évacuer. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Ambiguïté, Double, Dostoïevski, Fantastique, Indétermination, Théories de la lecture.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: John Ferns. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-241). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (D.A.)--Illinois State University, 1982. / Title from title page screen, viewed April 11, 2005. Dissertation Committee: Robert Duncan (chair), Stan Renner, Glenn Grever, Walter Pierce, Niles Holt. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 239-250) and abstract. Also available in print.