Francophones Literatures
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course of Francophone Literatures chooses to focus on a different Francophony each academic year, presenting itself as a specialization training with respect to the literary courses of French of the Bachelor's Degree. For this academic year, sub-Saharan Africa will be focused. In addition to providing broad outlines of literary historical evolution of the Francophone Literature object of the course (with possible references to pre-acquired knowledge in French literature), lessons will focus, from time to time, on a specific topic. On the one hand, therefore, students will learn how to define a part of the history of literature; on the other hand, a monographic topic will always be focused on probing forms and contents of a genre of a Francophone literature, acquiring the use of refined textual analysis tools and becoming aware of the fact that only starting from the analysis of the works is It is possible to recognize and define a specificity of the Francophone universe.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: students will learn how to define a literary journey, starting from the works and the historical, cultural and artistic framework of a defined period. They will also have deepened the functioning of the narratology tools that allow the analysis of the literary text avoiding impressionistic readings. They will also have acquired knowledge of the historical-cultural evolution of French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa (national specificities and continental dimension) through some exemplary texts and verified the interaction between Literature and other disciplines (Anthropology, Cultural studies, History, Geography).
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: capacity for critical interpretation and interpretative autonomy applicable to any type of literary text. Opening of the student's subjective point of view in the direction of the culture of the other. Ability to set up transversal readings in the cultural, linguistic, artistic and historical-social framework able to compare different cultures in depth and to listen to cultures that are also significantly distant from those to which it belongs.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: capacity for critical interpretation and interpretative autonomy applicable to any type of literary text. Opening of the student's subjective point of view in the direction of the culture of the other. Ability to set up transversal readings in the cultural, linguistic, artistic and historical-social framework able to compare different cultures in depth and to listen to cultures that are also significantly distant from those to which it belongs.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The title of the course is : Colonialism, independences, neocolonialism: the Francophone African novel between memory and testimony, social criticism and aesthetic creation and it consists of three teaching units that will be presented in a progressive sequence:
Unit A: African novel and memory of colonialism.
Unit B: The age of independences and narrative renewal. Unit C: Contemporary Africa through the filter of the novel. Students who intend to acquire 6 CFU will follow the program of Units A and B; all students wishing to acquire 9 CFU will follow the complete program (units A, B and C).
Unit A will focus that the history of the African novel begins with a duty of memory and testimony: if this gender is a legacy of colonialism, it soon becomes the object of representation, reflection and criticism through various narrative works. Unit B will underline how the age of independences implies what should be a radical change in the African reality and that, in many ways, coincides not only with new main themes of the novel, but also in a mutation of its formal and structural aspects. Unit C will highlight that the novel maintains its role of recording memory even in the contemporary era, where alongside textual experiments we find choices to recover a previous tradition to give voice to today's world.
The program for this course is valid until February 2022.
Unit A: African novel and memory of colonialism.
Unit B: The age of independences and narrative renewal. Unit C: Contemporary Africa through the filter of the novel. Students who intend to acquire 6 CFU will follow the program of Units A and B; all students wishing to acquire 9 CFU will follow the complete program (units A, B and C).
Unit A will focus that the history of the African novel begins with a duty of memory and testimony: if this gender is a legacy of colonialism, it soon becomes the object of representation, reflection and criticism through various narrative works. Unit B will underline how the age of independences implies what should be a radical change in the African reality and that, in many ways, coincides not only with new main themes of the novel, but also in a mutation of its formal and structural aspects. Unit C will highlight that the novel maintains its role of recording memory even in the contemporary era, where alongside textual experiments we find choices to recover a previous tradition to give voice to today's world.
The program for this course is valid until February 2022.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held entirely in French, the materials and the bibliography of examination mainly in French presuppose solid language skills. Students who do not know enough French will rarely be able to rely on Italian translations and profitably follow the lessons. Erasmus students or other forms of mobility are admitted as long as they possess solid French language skills. In addition, a basic understanding of the development of modern French Literature is a significant help to the student.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading and commenting on significant passages taken from the works in the program; viewing and commenting on images (iconographic support), documentaries and short films.
Teaching Resources
The course has a site on the online platform for Ariel teaching, to which students will refer for further information and other materials provided by the teacher. Here below are the compulsory reading works for the various teaching units, the general bibliography and the specific bibliography for each unit. Texts preceded by an asterisk are additional and mandatory only for non-attending students (that add them to the others indicated).
General bibliography
- Marco MODENESI, Colonialismo, indipendenze, neocolonialismo: materiali integrativi per il corso di Letterature francofone A.A. 2019/2020 (under the direction of the teacher: the materials are available from the teacher)
- Michel HAUSSER, Littératures francopho nes - tome 3. Afrique noire; Océan indien, Paris, Belin, 2000
- Loredana CHINES, Carlo VAROTTI, Che cos'è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci, 2015.
*Dominique COMBE, Les littératures francophones. Questions, débats, polémiques, Paris, PUF, 2010
Unità didattica A
- Amadou Hampaté BÂ, L'étrange destin de Wangrin, Paris, 10-18, available edition.
- Cheikh Hamidou KANE, L'aventure ambiguë, Paris, 10-18, available edition.
Unità didattica B
- Ahmadou KOUROUMA, Les soleils des indépendances, Paris, Seuil, "Points", available edition.
- Aminata SOW FALL, La grève des bàttu, Paris, Le Serpent à plumes, available edition.
*Jean-Claude NICOLAS, Comprendre "Les Soleils des indépendances", Issy-les-Moulineaux, Éditions Saint-Paul, 1985
*Aminata Sow Fall: itinéraire d'une pionnière, "Interculturel/Francophonies" n.27, juin-juillet 2015 (Alliance Française - Lecce)
Unità didattica C
- In Koli Jean BOFANE, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismark, Paris, Actes Sud, available edition.
- Florent COUAO-ZOTTI, Si la cour du mouton est sale ce n'est pas au porc de le dire, Paris, Le Serpent à plumes, 2010.
Warnings for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students (including materials listed on the Ariel website) is the one envisaged for those attending with the addition of the texts preceded by an asterisk indicated above. compared to the one for attending students. Naturally, given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to the study and elaboration of the contents foreseen by the program and, in case of doubt, do not to hesitate to contact the teacher for clarifications.
General bibliography
- Marco MODENESI, Colonialismo, indipendenze, neocolonialismo: materiali integrativi per il corso di Letterature francofone A.A. 2019/2020 (under the direction of the teacher: the materials are available from the teacher)
- Michel HAUSSER, Littératures francopho nes - tome 3. Afrique noire; Océan indien, Paris, Belin, 2000
- Loredana CHINES, Carlo VAROTTI, Che cos'è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci, 2015.
*Dominique COMBE, Les littératures francophones. Questions, débats, polémiques, Paris, PUF, 2010
Unità didattica A
- Amadou Hampaté BÂ, L'étrange destin de Wangrin, Paris, 10-18, available edition.
- Cheikh Hamidou KANE, L'aventure ambiguë, Paris, 10-18, available edition.
Unità didattica B
- Ahmadou KOUROUMA, Les soleils des indépendances, Paris, Seuil, "Points", available edition.
- Aminata SOW FALL, La grève des bàttu, Paris, Le Serpent à plumes, available edition.
*Jean-Claude NICOLAS, Comprendre "Les Soleils des indépendances", Issy-les-Moulineaux, Éditions Saint-Paul, 1985
*Aminata Sow Fall: itinéraire d'une pionnière, "Interculturel/Francophonies" n.27, juin-juillet 2015 (Alliance Française - Lecce)
Unità didattica C
- In Koli Jean BOFANE, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismark, Paris, Actes Sud, available edition.
- Florent COUAO-ZOTTI, Si la cour du mouton est sale ce n'est pas au porc de le dire, Paris, Le Serpent à plumes, 2010.
Warnings for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students (including materials listed on the Ariel website) is the one envisaged for those attending with the addition of the texts preceded by an asterisk indicated above. compared to the one for attending students. Naturally, given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to the study and elaboration of the contents foreseen by the program and, in case of doubt, do not to hesitate to contact the teacher for clarifications.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which opens with the reading and critical comment by the student of a passage, chosen by him/her, taken from one of the novels at program. The interview therefore includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student and further analysis and commentary on one or more aspects of the works at program. The interview has a variable duration but it is, on average, around twenty minutes and it is compulsorily held in French for the students of the LM of Lingue specialists of French; it is chosen by the student between Italian and French for all the other Courses. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read (works and critical bibliography), the ability to contextualize authors and works, the ability to expose, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on proposed themes, the use of textual analysis methods illustrated during the lessons. Finally, it will also take into account language skills if the student chooses French. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be verbalized as "withdrawn"). International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
2nd SEMESTER: tuesday, 3.30pm-5.30pm; wednesday, 9.30am-10.30am
Department of Foreing languages,literatures, cultures and mediations; 1, S. Alessandro Square, Milan