This course is an introduction to French civilization, culture and literature from the Middle Ages to 18th century. We will study various authors, works from different genres and the main literary movements that marked those centuries. Students will be provided with the linguistic, stylistic and critical tools suited to the analysis of anthological texts. Thanks to this course, we are able to apply knowledge and understanding, make judgement, communicate and learn skills.
After a brief introduction to the Middle Ages, the first part of the course will consist of a survey of 16th, 17th and 18th French literature, with a particular focus on important periods in French civilization, such as Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism and Enlightenment. The main authors, genres and movements will be examined in context through the reading and analysis of some excerpts and texts.
Anthology
Close reading of at least 20 anthological texts (selection to be agreed upon with teacher)
Series of lectures on : Corneille, Racine et Molière : les trois âmes du théâtre français du XVIIe siècle
Histoire littéraire et anthologie
André LAGARDE et Laurent MICHARD (collection dirigée par), Les grands auteurs Français – Anthologie et histoire littéraire, Paris, Bordas.
Méthodologie
Sélection de 2 ouvrages à lire
XVIe siècle
Rabelais, Gargantua ou Pantagruel | Ronsard, Amours. [1 au choix] | Montaigne, Essais [15 essais au choix]
XVIIe siècle
La Fontaine, Fables [15 fables au choix] | Corneille, Le Cid | Racine, Phèdre ou Bérénice | Madame de La Fayette, La Princesse de Clèves.
XVIIIe siècle
Marivaux, Le jeu de l’amour et du hasard ou La vie de Marianne | Abbé Prévost, Manon Lescaut | Choderlos de Laclos, Les liaisons dangereuses | Denis Diderot, La Religieuse | Voltaire, Micromégas ou Zadig ou Candide ou Traité sur la tolérance | Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discours sur l’origine et les fondements de l’inégalité parmi les hommes, Émile ou La Nouvelle Héloïse | Montesquieu, Lettres persanes ou L’esprit des Lois I et II | Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, Paul et Virginie.
Cours monographique :
Francesco FIORENTINO, Il teatro francese del Seicento, Bari, Laterza, 2008.
Le théâtre du XVIIe siècle : http://17emesiecle.free.fr/Theatre.php