Golden Age Russian Literature

Sasha Portice is a wonderful teacher and works hard to make the discussions captivating and accessible to all. I found myself looking forward to her classes (when I had completed the readings and felt that I had a good understanding of what was going on) because they were fun, lighthearted, and were often quite thought-provoking. Just know, however, that there is a lot of reading for this course. At its peak, we were reading well over 150+ pages per class and finishing long novels (which we had to write about) in very short periods. If you are a fast reader, which I am not, you will be fine. Overall, it is a worthwhile course.

Sasha Portice is a wonderful teacher and works hard to make the discussions captivating and accessible to all. I found myself looking forward to her classes (when I had completed the readings and felt that I had a good understanding of what was going on) because they were fun, lighthearted, and were often quite thought-provoking. Jus …Read more

The class is very reading heavy, and there are small discussions you have to contribute to before each class, but other than that, it is a very enjoyable class to take. The professor is very kind, very accommodating, and her grading style is very fair (even the midterms, though intimidating, are graded very fairly, and there are quizzes each class you only need to get 3/5 to pass). The readings can get a little overwhelming, but I feel that most have a decent amount of time allotted to the analyzing of them. Good discussions. Would recommend to anyone interested in Russian literature.

The class is very reading heavy, and there are small discussions you have to contribute to before each class, but other than that, it is a very enjoyable class to take. The professor is very kind, very accommodating, and her grading style is very fair (even the midterms, though intimidating, are graded very fairly, and there are quiz …Read more

Sasha Portice is a wonderful woman with unending patience and fantastic vibes. She is literally the only thing that made Russian literature tolerable in my mind. Discussions were always very fun--even if you didn't do any of the readings, and the way she led discussions was very helpful for doing more analysis. Her grading is rather lenient and her vibes are fantastic. If you need a Euro and a Lit credit at the same time, or have even a passing interest in Russian Literature I can definitely say that I would recommend this course almost exclusively because of Professor Portice's fantastical teaching, discussion leading, and things of this nature.

Sasha Portice is a wonderful woman with unending patience and fantastic vibes. She is literally the only thing that made Russian literature tolerable in my mind. Discussions were always very fun--even if you didn't do any of the readings, and the way she led discussions was very helpful for doing more analysis. Her grading is rather …Read more

Professor Portice’s Russian Literature course is a remarkable journey into one of the world’s most profound literary traditions. From the outset, it’s clear that Professor Portice brings a deep passion and extensive knowledge to the subject, guiding students through the intricate and often challenging landscape of Russian literature with both expertise and enthusiasm. The course is intellectually stimulating and richly rewarding, though it requires a substantial commitment to reading. Students will find themselves immersed in a vast array of texts, from the hauntingly beautiful works of Fyodor Dostoevsky to the lyrical prose of Anton Chekhov. Professor Portice's careful curation of the reading list ensures that each work contributes meaningfully to the understanding of Russian literary themes and historical context. While the amount of reading might seem daunting, it is always engaging and thought-provoking. Professor Portice has a knack for making even the most complex texts accessible and relevant, providing valuable insights that enhance comprehension and appreciation. The class discussions are vibrant and insightful, often delving into deep analysis and interpretation, thanks to Professor Portice’s skillful facilitation. Overall, this course is a challenging yet immensely gratifying experience. It offers a comprehensive exploration of Russian literature that will leave students with a profound appreciation for the genre and its key figures. If you’re ready for a deep dive into some of the greatest literary works ever written, Professor Portice’s class is definitely worth the effort.

Professor Portice’s Russian Literature course is a remarkable journey into one of the world’s most profound literary traditions. From the outset, it’s clear that Professor Portice brings a deep passion and extensive knowledge to the subject, guiding students through the intricate and often challenging landscape of Russian literature …Read more

I really enjoyed this course. I am not the best at endless reading and staying on top of things, but the materials Sasha chose for this course were incredibly engaging. Additionally, the class style was split pretty evenly between small group/whole class discussions and lectures, which I found really helped my understanding of the material. I always looked forward to going to this class!

I really enjoyed this course. I am not the best at endless reading and staying on top of things, but the materials Sasha chose for this course were incredibly engaging. Additionally, the class style was split pretty evenly between small group/whole class discussions and lectures, which I found really helped my understanding of the ma …Read more

Prof. Portice is one of my favorite professors at Middlebury, I love how he focuses most of his classes on discussion while adding input/context when needed. In this course, we read a LOT but every reading was worthwhile and they all connected with each other in a unique way. The class has a midterm and a final, which can either be a timed, take home, open note exam, or a paper, or a project. He is very flexible about what you produce as a midterm or final product for the class, which I loved.

Prof. Portice is one of my favorite professors at Middlebury, I love how he focuses most of his classes on discussion while adding input/context when needed. In this course, we read a LOT but every reading was worthwhile and they all connected with each other in a unique way. The class has a midterm and a final, which can either be a …Read more

I love Professor Portice's class. We are able to go through the authors in a chronological order and see how they respond to each other. Sasha is also very knowledgable and willing to share a lot if you go to her office hours. As a history nerd I enjoyed learning about the historical backgrounds. The readings are overwhelming tho, average 100pg+ per day.

Portice is one of my favorite professors on campus. he's incredibly clear with expectations from the get go. One midterm and a final, neither of which was particularly bad. The class has A LOT of reading. it starts light, but at around the halfway point of the semester, that bumps up to around 100-150 pages of reading per class session (sometimes monday to wednesday instead of over the weekend). The class is small, so you actually have to try and if you don't read it'll be pretty obvious. However, I have to say, this has definitely been one of my favorite classes I've taken at Midd, and would definitely recommend it to any one that enjoys reading and wants to familiarize themself with Russian Literature.

Portice is one of my favorite professors on campus. he's incredibly clear with expectations from the get go. One midterm and a final, neither of which was particularly bad. The class has A LOT of reading. it starts light, but at around the halfway point of the semester, that bumps up to around 100-150 pages of reading per class sessi …Read more

Professor Portice was one of my favorite professors thus far at Middlebury. Our class size was very small so class discussions and discussions in small groups were a huge part of the curriculum. Papers are graded fairly and I found that class discussions yielded plenty of good material to dig into for essays.

I really enjoyed this course. Professor Portice was very passionate about the material and gave tough but very fair feedback on the essays we were assigned. I really liked all of the readings, though Brothers Karamazov was significantly longer than the others.

I really enjoyed this class. Professor Portice isn't an easy essay grader, but taking his class definitely made me a much better writer. There's a lot of reading, but I actually liked all of the books.

While I really like Professor Portice I don't think this class was for me. If you really like reading and discussing literature then you will like this. I found that there was way too much reading so discussions were often superficial because nobody could read that much.