Back to Announcements

Open Course “The Master and Margarita”

Students, Language and Culture Studies, Course and Registrar posted

Fall 2021. Open course: LACS 283-01. “The Master & Margarita”. Read the classic Russian fantasy novel about a visitation from the devil. This course has no prerequisites.

  Which do we love more, truth or power? How do we choose when they conflict? The Russian fantasy novel The Master and Margarita exposes the universal human talent for truth-avoidance. The comic narrative unfolds as the devil arrives in Moscow for a week of mischief-making. In a double plot, supernatural pranks alternate with a fictional “gospel according to the devil.”

Our intensive study of this unique masterpiece will begin with background readings, including the Biblical book of Job, selections from the New Testament gospels, Goethe’s Faust, and memoirs of communist literary culture. Author Mikhail Bulgakov’s tale of humor/fantasy/theology has the unique distinction of being a cult novel as well as a literary classic.