Free resolutions over short local rings

The structure of minimal free resolutions of finite modules M over commutative local rings (R,m,k) with m^3=0 and rank_k(m^2) < rank_k(m/m^2)is studied. It is proved that over generic R every M has a Koszul syzygy module. Explicit families of Koszul modules are identified. When R is Gorenstein the non-Koszul modules are classified. Structure theorems are established for the graded k-algebra Ext_R(k,k) and its graded module Ext_R(M,k).