Scandinavian Studies 374/Literature in Translation 274
Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature:
The Twentieth Century. 

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Paper Topics

You should choose a paper topic as soon as possible. You will be writing on a text not treated in class. Below you will find brief descriptions of possible works, which should help you decide.

Authors are listed in the order they appear in the course syllabus.

Please read "Documentation in Papers" before you begin to write.

1. August Strindberg's To Damascus (1898).  Called the first expressionist drama, this play follows the spiritual journey of a central character called "The Stranger." Available in the library in several translations and available for purchase. (Modernism, Expressionism)

2. Hjalmar Söderberg's  Short Stories. These short stories show wide sylistic variation. A selection from Söderberg's short story collection, Historietter (1898), is available in translation through electronic reserve. ( Fin de Siecle, Modernism)

3. Pär Lagerkvist, The Difficult Hour (1918). An expressionistic play focusing on the moment of death. (Modernism, Expressionism)

4. Edith Södergran, Love & Solitude: Selected Poems 1916-1923. Poems by one of the best known Finland-Swedish Modernists. (Modernism, Expressionism)

5. Cora Sandel, Selected Short Stories (1927 & 1932). A variety of realistic tales about life in Norway. (Realism, Modernism).

6. Isak Dinesen, Seven Gothic Tales (1934). Read an additional tale from a collection you already own. I recommend either "The Monkey" or "The Old Chevalier." (Gothic, Modernism)

7. Martin A. Hansen, "Paradise Apples" (1953). A deeply symbolic short story about the choices a young boy makes. (Modernism, Expressionism)

8. Dorrit Willumsen, "The Creation of Bianca." (1981) Story about a female engineer who is charged with creating a replacement for women. (Postmodernism)

9. Dorrit Willumsen, "If It Really Were a Film" (1978) Story about a thief. (Postmodernism)

Copyright © 2001 Susan Brantly. All Rights reserved.