T. A. Kalganova. Studying Gogol with Yury Mann: A teacher’s handbook

Abstract

The review deals with the first book in the new series The School Library of Gogol’s Memorial House. A teacher’s handbook, it offers relevant instructional material to help structure Gogol-themed lessons as well as ideas for extracurricular activities. The handbook summarises the factual background of individual works and supplies them with a historical and cultural commentary, sample questions and assignments accompanied with an essential literary critical glossary, and a quiz. Excerpts from Mann’s articles and monographs are supplemented with instructive and creative assignments for students, designed to improve language skills, encourage research initiatives, and develop creative potential. Mann’s works teach the skill of analysing text as a unity of form and content. The handbook also contains dictionaries: one explains obsolete words used in Gogol’s works, another comprises the definitions of literary terms, and yet another is concerned with names. Included in this edition is an article on the theoretical and practical significance of Mann’s scholarly output. The handbook will be of use with a basic as well as specialised curriculum.