French Literature 1
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
Starting with authors and exemplary works and by focusing particularly on poetic structures (metrics, phonoprosodics, rhetoric) and thematic structures that characterize and reveal specific writing choices, the course aims to identify how to recognize and define a cultural-literary movement (foundation, evolution, manière) choosing a particular poetic moment as an exemplary one. At the same time, the student will be introduced to the hermeneutics of the literary text, by introducing the basic tools of poetic analysis and their scientific and non-impressionistic application.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: students will learn what is a course of literary history and how to define it, starting from the works and the historical, cultural and artistic framework of a defined period. They will also acquire basic tools of poetry analysis that allow them to analyse the literary text avoiding impressionistic readings. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to draw critical interpretation and interpretative autonomy of medium level applicable to the literary text of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Ability to set transversal readings in the cultural, artistic and social-historical framework, going beyond the impression that art moves in a watertight compartment.
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
More specific informations of the delivery modes of training activities for the Academic Year 2021/2022 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
Nineteenth-century French novel and the mimesis of the world: romanticism, realism, naturalism.
The course is divided into three moments that will be carried out in sequence:
Part one - A: Foundations, birth and evolution of French Romanticism. From Chateaubriand to Balzac, through the critical reading of two exemplary novels: "René" and "Eugénie Grandet".Part 2 - B: "Au Vrai par le Beau": critical reading of "Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert. Novel and realism.
Part three - C: the scientific approach to the world. Zola and naturalism. Critical reading of "Nana".
The genre of the novel dominates the French 19th century. With "René", Chateaubriand focuses the type of the romantic man for an entire generation. Balzac and Stendhal, to the representation and evocation of passions add the need for a mimetic reproduction of the real world. In 1857, Flaubert, with "Madame Bovary", marks the end of romanticism and gives a new function to the novel. With the advent of positivism, science also enters with vigor in the novel and Zola's experimental novel is an exemplary testimony. Through the reading of the works in the program, the course aims to define a fundamental moment for modern French literature, but also to introduce rigorous methods of analysis of the narrative text.
The course is aimed exclusively at students of the three-year degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures (students from any other LT are not admitted) who choose French as their first or second three-year language. The course is held in Italian. All literary texts, however, will be read and analyzed in the original language (with translation in the classroom by the teacher). The exam takes place in Italian or in French, according to the student's choice.
This program is valid until february 28th 2022
The course is divided into three moments that will be carried out in sequence:
Part one - A: Foundations, birth and evolution of French Romanticism. From Chateaubriand to Balzac, through the critical reading of two exemplary novels: "René" and "Eugénie Grandet".Part 2 - B: "Au Vrai par le Beau": critical reading of "Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert. Novel and realism.
Part three - C: the scientific approach to the world. Zola and naturalism. Critical reading of "Nana".
The genre of the novel dominates the French 19th century. With "René", Chateaubriand focuses the type of the romantic man for an entire generation. Balzac and Stendhal, to the representation and evocation of passions add the need for a mimetic reproduction of the real world. In 1857, Flaubert, with "Madame Bovary", marks the end of romanticism and gives a new function to the novel. With the advent of positivism, science also enters with vigor in the novel and Zola's experimental novel is an exemplary testimony. Through the reading of the works in the program, the course aims to define a fundamental moment for modern French literature, but also to introduce rigorous methods of analysis of the narrative text.
The course is aimed exclusively at students of the three-year degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures (students from any other LT are not admitted) who choose French as their first or second three-year language. The course is held in Italian. All literary texts, however, will be read and analyzed in the original language (with translation in the classroom by the teacher). The exam takes place in Italian or in French, according to the student's choice.
This program is valid until february 28th 2022
Prerequisites for admission
None. The course is held in Italian but all the novels will be read in the original version (French). Students are required, however, to "enroll" in this course(French Literature 1) using the same app they will have to use to book any seat in the classroom.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading, translation and commentary of passages taken from the novels belonging to the program; viewing and commenting on images and short films.
Teaching Resources
The course has a site on the Ariel online teaching platform ("French literature 1"), to which reference should be made for further details and any other materials uploaded by the teacher.
The following are the compulsory reading works (all those that are not followed by the explicit "recommended text") and recommended, for the various teaching units and the reference critical bibliography. The student must also view all the videos indicated as an integral part of the course on the Ariel website.
PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
General bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Lionello SOZZI, "Storia europea della letteratura francese. II. Dal Settecento all'età contemporanea", Torino, Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, 2013; in particular the section relating to the nineteenth century.
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre ", Paris, Bréal, 2018
- Andrea BERNARDELLI, Remo CESERANI, "Il testo narrativo", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005
- Yves REUTER, "Introduction à l'analyse du roman", Paris, Colin, 2016 (recommended text)
NB: all novels must be read and submitted for examination in the original French version (or with the opposite text) and in full version.
Part 1 - A
François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (edited by Anna Maria Scaiola), Venice, Marsilio, 2001 (or any complete French edition).
Honoré de BALZAC, "Eugénie Grandet", Paris, Folio, ed. avail. (or any other complete French edition)
Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Le romantisme", Paris, Ellipses, 2008
Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992 (recommended text)
Georges BAFARO, "Étude sur 'Eugénie Grandet'", Paris, Ellipses, 2007 (recommended text)
Part 2 - B
Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", any complete French edition
Pierre-Marc DE BIASI, "Flaubert. L'homme-plume ", Paris, Gallimard, 2002
Part 3 - C
Émile ZOLA, "Nana", any complete French edition
Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, PUF, 2002
PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
General bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Lionello SOZZI, "Storia europea della letteratura francese. II. Dal Settecento all'età contemporanea", Torino, Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, 2013 ; in particular the section relating to the nineteenth century.
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre ", Paris, Bréal, 2018
- Andrea BERNARDELLI, Remo CESERANI, "Il testo narrativo", Bologna, Il MUlino, 2005
- Yves REUTER, "Introduction à l'analyse du roman", Paris, Colin, 2016 (recommended text)
NB: all novels must be read and submitted for examination in the original French version (or in parallel text edition) and in full version.
Part 1 - A
- François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (edited by Anna Maria Scaiola), Venice, Marsilio, 2001 (or any full French edition).
- Honoré de BALZAC, "Eugénie Grandet", Paris, Folio, ed. avail. (or any other complete French edition)
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Le romantisme", Paris, Ellipses, 2008
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992
- Georges BAFARO, "Étude sur 'Eugénie Grandet'", Paris, Ellipses, 2007
Part 2 - B
- Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", any complete French edition
- Pierre-Marc DE BIASI, "Flaubert. L'homme-plume ", Paris, Gallimard, 2002
- Jean-Daniel MALLET, "Madame Bovary ', Paris, Hatier, coll. Profil, 2014.
Part 3 - C
- Émile ZOLA, "Nana", any complete French edition
- Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, PUF, 2002
- Anne BELGRAND, "Étude sur 'Nana'", Paris, Ellipses, 2014
The following are the compulsory reading works (all those that are not followed by the explicit "recommended text") and recommended, for the various teaching units and the reference critical bibliography. The student must also view all the videos indicated as an integral part of the course on the Ariel website.
PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
General bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Lionello SOZZI, "Storia europea della letteratura francese. II. Dal Settecento all'età contemporanea", Torino, Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, 2013; in particular the section relating to the nineteenth century.
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre ", Paris, Bréal, 2018
- Andrea BERNARDELLI, Remo CESERANI, "Il testo narrativo", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005
- Yves REUTER, "Introduction à l'analyse du roman", Paris, Colin, 2016 (recommended text)
NB: all novels must be read and submitted for examination in the original French version (or with the opposite text) and in full version.
Part 1 - A
François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (edited by Anna Maria Scaiola), Venice, Marsilio, 2001 (or any complete French edition).
Honoré de BALZAC, "Eugénie Grandet", Paris, Folio, ed. avail. (or any other complete French edition)
Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Le romantisme", Paris, Ellipses, 2008
Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992 (recommended text)
Georges BAFARO, "Étude sur 'Eugénie Grandet'", Paris, Ellipses, 2007 (recommended text)
Part 2 - B
Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", any complete French edition
Pierre-Marc DE BIASI, "Flaubert. L'homme-plume ", Paris, Gallimard, 2002
Part 3 - C
Émile ZOLA, "Nana", any complete French edition
Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, PUF, 2002
PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
General bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Lionello SOZZI, "Storia europea della letteratura francese. II. Dal Settecento all'età contemporanea", Torino, Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, 2013 ; in particular the section relating to the nineteenth century.
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre ", Paris, Bréal, 2018
- Andrea BERNARDELLI, Remo CESERANI, "Il testo narrativo", Bologna, Il MUlino, 2005
- Yves REUTER, "Introduction à l'analyse du roman", Paris, Colin, 2016 (recommended text)
NB: all novels must be read and submitted for examination in the original French version (or in parallel text edition) and in full version.
Part 1 - A
- François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (edited by Anna Maria Scaiola), Venice, Marsilio, 2001 (or any full French edition).
- Honoré de BALZAC, "Eugénie Grandet", Paris, Folio, ed. avail. (or any other complete French edition)
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Le romantisme", Paris, Ellipses, 2008
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992
- Georges BAFARO, "Étude sur 'Eugénie Grandet'", Paris, Ellipses, 2007
Part 2 - B
- Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", any complete French edition
- Pierre-Marc DE BIASI, "Flaubert. L'homme-plume ", Paris, Gallimard, 2002
- Jean-Daniel MALLET, "Madame Bovary ', Paris, Hatier, coll. Profil, 2014.
Part 3 - C
- Émile ZOLA, "Nana", any complete French edition
- Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, PUF, 2002
- Anne BELGRAND, "Étude sur 'Nana'", Paris, Ellipses, 2014
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview (in Italian or in French, according to the student's decision) which opens with the reading, translation and interpretative comment of a passage, chosen by the student. The interviews continue with questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student and the analysis and commentary of the other works at program. The interview has a variable duration, but it lasts an average of twenty minutes and usually takes place in Italian. It can be taken in French at the choice of the student. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the works read and the texts assigned in the bibliography, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the ability in the exhibition, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection of the student. 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.
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