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Does reading for pleasure differ from reading for a class? How does one interpret texts? What does it mean to read between the lines? Focusing on Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina we will learn to identify literary devices, themes, and symbols. Comparing different English versions we'll explore how word choices shape our interpretation. In addition to articulating our views during in-class discussions, we will write compelling interpretive and argumentative essays. Beyond the novel itself, we will consider secondary literature to discuss Anna Karenina’s reception history, and consult film adaptations to analyze how text is transformed through cinematic techniques.