French Literature
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide non-specialist students an overall preparation in relation to French Literature and Civilisation, with a focus on influence and mediation with Italian Literature.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: 1) An essential framework of French Literature, according to the periods and authors considered, 2) Understanding basic elements in order to analyse texts' structure (metrical, stylistic, narrative devices).
Skills. 1) Ability to identify the main expressive features (stylistic, thematic and structural) of every literary work and recognize the author's identity in it 2) Ability to date literary works in chronological and cultural connection with Italian literature, 3) Ability to use coherently critical contributions 4) Ability to read works and identify themes and formal issues.
Skills. 1) Ability to identify the main expressive features (stylistic, thematic and structural) of every literary work and recognize the author's identity in it 2) Ability to date literary works in chronological and cultural connection with Italian literature, 3) Ability to use coherently critical contributions 4) Ability to read works and identify themes and formal issues.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "The oriental imaginary and French literature: seduction, fear, the illusion of otherness".
The course aims to propose a critical reflection on the oriental imaginary that certain French literary works offer, placing them, from this imaginary, in their epistemological and cultural context. The analysis of the individual works, which belong to 4 different literary genres, follows a chronological order:
1. The mid-seventeenth century, the cultural policy of Louis XIV, the presence of the Turk in the imaginary 'classique' and in Racine's tragedy Bajazet;
2. The late 19th century, reports of oriental travel, decadentism and Flaubert's 'Conte', 'Hérodias' (;
3. The interest in the Far East in the 20th century, Yourcenar's 'Nouvelles Orientales';
4. Attempts at reconciliation with the East, Mathias Énard's contemporary novel, Parle-leurs de batailles, de rois et d'éléphants (2010)
The course aims to propose a critical reflection on the oriental imaginary that certain French literary works offer, placing them, from this imaginary, in their epistemological and cultural context. The analysis of the individual works, which belong to 4 different literary genres, follows a chronological order:
1. The mid-seventeenth century, the cultural policy of Louis XIV, the presence of the Turk in the imaginary 'classique' and in Racine's tragedy Bajazet;
2. The late 19th century, reports of oriental travel, decadentism and Flaubert's 'Conte', 'Hérodias' (;
3. The interest in the Far East in the 20th century, Yourcenar's 'Nouvelles Orientales';
4. Attempts at reconciliation with the East, Mathias Énard's contemporary novel, Parle-leurs de batailles, de rois et d'éléphants (2010)
Prerequisites for admission
passive knowledge of French is required: Italian translations are used individually, but texts are read in class in French for stylistic commentary on the original. A small part of the critical material may be in French.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching: presentation of the East as an element of cultural debate and a privileged literary theme in certain historical contexts presented synthetically; analysis of 4 texts examined in their various articulations (rhetorical devices, stylistic, theatrical or narrative structures) in chronological order.
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended
Teaching Resources
Bibliographical indications:
Jean Racine, Bajazet, with facing text, edited and translated by Vincenzo De Santis, Palermo, Euno Edizioni, 2019;
Gustave Flaubert, Trois Contes (Hérodias) any edition
Marguerite Yourcenar, Nouvelles Orientales, any edition (note the translation by Maria Luisa Spaziani for Bur, 1983);
Mathias Énard, Parle-leur de batailles, des rois et d'éléphants, Arles, Actes du Sud, 2010 (noting the translation of Yasmina Melaouah, Parlami di battaglie, di reis et di elefanti, Rome, Edizioni e/o, 2019.
Critical essays available in PDF in Ariel: Prey, French Literature, from the end of October.
Jean Racine, Bajazet, with facing text, edited and translated by Vincenzo De Santis, Palermo, Euno Edizioni, 2019;
Gustave Flaubert, Trois Contes (Hérodias) any edition
Marguerite Yourcenar, Nouvelles Orientales, any edition (note the translation by Maria Luisa Spaziani for Bur, 1983);
Mathias Énard, Parle-leur de batailles, des rois et d'éléphants, Arles, Actes du Sud, 2010 (noting the translation of Yasmina Melaouah, Parlami di battaglie, di reis et di elefanti, Rome, Edizioni e/o, 2019.
Critical essays available in PDF in Ariel: Prey, French Literature, from the end of October.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam: The oral exam consists of an interview on the scheduled topic. The student must analyse the texts in French presented in the course, know how to contextualise them (historical-literary context), know how to recognise the elements of reflection that the oriental theme of the work offers, from a cultural and more precisely literary point of view; know how to analyse the text in its various articulations (rhetorical and stylistic devices, theatrical and narrative structures)
Assessment criteria: ability to culturally situate the works analysed; ability to coherently use literary critical contributions on the subject, ability to reason critically, quality of exposition, competence in critical reflection on the East/West relationship, starting from the literary works analysed.
Assessment criteria: ability to culturally situate the works analysed; ability to coherently use literary critical contributions on the subject, ability to reason critically, quality of exposition, competence in critical reflection on the East/West relationship, starting from the literary works analysed.
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
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday from 2.30 to 7.30 pm.
square S.Alessandro 1, 2nd floor