French Literature 1
A.Y. 2023/2024
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
Course syllabus
"Telling the world, reproducing the world. Aspects of the nineteenth-century French novel (Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism)."
The course is divided into three didactic 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 "Le Père Goriot."
Part Two (B): the end of Romanticism and Flaubert's Realism through critical reading of "Madame Bovary."
Part Three (C): Science as a tool for investigating the world: Zola and Naturalism through critical reading of "L'Assommoir."
Course presentation.
The genre of the novel dominates almost the entire French nineteenth century, particularly with the need to reproduce the world. Chateaubriand's "René" focuses on the typology of the Romantic Man for an entire generation. Balzac and Stendhal modify the evocation of passions and also express a new need, that of a mimetic reproduction of the real world. In 1857, Flaubert, with "Madame Bovary", seals the end of the Romantic worldview and aesthetics, recognizing unprecedented functions for the novel and literature ("Au Vrai par le Beau"). With the advent of positivism in the latter part of the century, Science also enters Literature with vigor, and Zola's "experimental novel" is exemplary testimony to this.
Through the reading of the works on the syllabus, the course aims to define a fundamental moment in modern French Literature, but also to introduce the student to methodologies of narrative text analysis and the identification of tools to define a cultural moment.
The course is intended exclusively for students of the Laurea triennale in Foreign Languages and Literatures (students of any other LT are not admitted) who choose French as their first or second three-year Language.
The course is conducted in Italian. All literary texts, however, will be read and analyzed in the original language (with classroom translation by the teacher) and in the original version must compulsorily be presented, read and analyzed on the exam.
The exam will be held in Italian Language or French Language, at the candidate's choice.
The course is divided into three didactic 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 "Le Père Goriot."
Part Two (B): the end of Romanticism and Flaubert's Realism through critical reading of "Madame Bovary."
Part Three (C): Science as a tool for investigating the world: Zola and Naturalism through critical reading of "L'Assommoir."
Course presentation.
The genre of the novel dominates almost the entire French nineteenth century, particularly with the need to reproduce the world. Chateaubriand's "René" focuses on the typology of the Romantic Man for an entire generation. Balzac and Stendhal modify the evocation of passions and also express a new need, that of a mimetic reproduction of the real world. In 1857, Flaubert, with "Madame Bovary", seals the end of the Romantic worldview and aesthetics, recognizing unprecedented functions for the novel and literature ("Au Vrai par le Beau"). With the advent of positivism in the latter part of the century, Science also enters Literature with vigor, and Zola's "experimental novel" is exemplary testimony to this.
Through the reading of the works on the syllabus, the course aims to define a fundamental moment in modern French Literature, but also to introduce the student to methodologies of narrative text analysis and the identification of tools to define a cultural moment.
The course is intended exclusively for students of the Laurea triennale in Foreign Languages and Literatures (students of any other LT are not admitted) who choose French as their first or second three-year Language.
The course is conducted in Italian. All literary texts, however, will be read and analyzed in the original language (with classroom translation by the teacher) and in the original version must compulsorily be presented, read and analyzed on the exam.
The exam will be held in Italian Language or French Language, at the candidate's choice.
Prerequisites for admission
None. The course is taught in Italian, but all works will be read in the original French version. All students are encouraged to assiduously attend the French Language 1 course and exercises in order to acquire the language skills essential to access the works and critical texts.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading, translation and commentary of passages taken from the texts belonging to the program; viewing and commenting on images and short films.
Teaching Resources
The works of compulsory study (all those that are not followed by the explicit indication " recommended text ") and recommended, for the different teaching units as well as the general critical reference bibliography are indicated below.
The student should also view all videos and/or other materials indicated or uploaded, as an integral part of the course on this Ariel site and all materials indicated to be uploaded on the Ariel - Letteratura francese 1 site.
PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
Where not otherwise indicated, the texts listed in Bibliography are mandatory for exam preparation.
General Bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Marco MODENESI (ed.), "Letteratura francese. L'Ottocento", Milano, Pearson, 2022 (the text will also be used in class)
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre", Paris, Bréal, 2018 (recommended text)
- Andrea BERNARDELLI, Remo CESERANI, "Il testo narrativo", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005
- Riccardo CASTELLANA, "Fiction e non fiction. Storia, teorie e forme", Roma, Carocci, 2021 /recommended text)
- Yves REUTER, "Introduction à l'analyse du roman", Paris, Colin, 2016 (recommended text)
NB: All novels must be read and submitted to the exam in the original French version (or with facing text) and in full. Neither translations nor unabridged editions of the original version will be accepted.
Part 1 - A
François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (ed. Anna Maria Scaiola), Venezia, Marsilio, 2001 (or any unabridged French edition).
Honoré de BALZAC, "Le Père Goriot", Paris, Folio (or any other unabridged French edition)
Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992 (recommended text)
Anne-Marie LEFEBVRE, "Étude sur 'Le Père Goriot'", Paris, Ellipses, 2015 (recommended text)
Part 2 - B
Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", Paris, Folio, or any unabridged French edition
Pierre-Marc DE BIASI, "Flaubert. L'homme-plume", Paris, Gallimard, 2002 (recommended text)
Parte 3 - C
Émile ZOLA, "L'Assommoir", any unabridged French edition
Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, "Que sais-je?", 2022 (recommended text)
PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Where not otherwise indicated, the texts listed in the Bibliography are mandatory for exam preparation.
General Bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Marco MODENESI (ed.), "Letteratura francese. L'Ottocento", Milano, Pearson, 2022
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre", Paris, Bréal, 2018 (recommended text)
- 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 presented for the exam in the original French version (or with facing text) and in full text.
Part 1 - A
- François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (ed. Anna Maria Scaiola), Venezia, Marsilio, 2001 (or any unabridged French edition).
- Honoré de BALZAC, "Le Père Goriot", Paris, Folio (or any other unabridged French edition)
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Le romantisme", Paris, Ellipses, 2008
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992
- Anne-Marie LEFEBVRE, "Étude sur 'Le Père Goriot'", Paris, Ellipses, 2015
Part 2 - B
- Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", any unabridged 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, "L'Assommoir", any unabridged French edition
- Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, PUF, 2002
- Isabelle GUILLAUME, "Étude sur 'L'Assommoir' Zola", Paris, Ellipses, 2015
The student should also view all videos and/or other materials indicated or uploaded, as an integral part of the course on this Ariel site and all materials indicated to be uploaded on the Ariel - Letteratura francese 1 site.
PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
Where not otherwise indicated, the texts listed in Bibliography are mandatory for exam preparation.
General Bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Marco MODENESI (ed.), "Letteratura francese. L'Ottocento", Milano, Pearson, 2022 (the text will also be used in class)
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre", Paris, Bréal, 2018 (recommended text)
- Andrea BERNARDELLI, Remo CESERANI, "Il testo narrativo", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005
- Riccardo CASTELLANA, "Fiction e non fiction. Storia, teorie e forme", Roma, Carocci, 2021 /recommended text)
- Yves REUTER, "Introduction à l'analyse du roman", Paris, Colin, 2016 (recommended text)
NB: All novels must be read and submitted to the exam in the original French version (or with facing text) and in full. Neither translations nor unabridged editions of the original version will be accepted.
Part 1 - A
François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (ed. Anna Maria Scaiola), Venezia, Marsilio, 2001 (or any unabridged French edition).
Honoré de BALZAC, "Le Père Goriot", Paris, Folio (or any other unabridged French edition)
Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992 (recommended text)
Anne-Marie LEFEBVRE, "Étude sur 'Le Père Goriot'", Paris, Ellipses, 2015 (recommended text)
Part 2 - B
Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", Paris, Folio, or any unabridged French edition
Pierre-Marc DE BIASI, "Flaubert. L'homme-plume", Paris, Gallimard, 2002 (recommended text)
Parte 3 - C
Émile ZOLA, "L'Assommoir", any unabridged French edition
Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, "Que sais-je?", 2022 (recommended text)
PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Where not otherwise indicated, the texts listed in the Bibliography are mandatory for exam preparation.
General Bibliography
- Antoine COMPAGNON, "La littérature, pour quoi faire?", Paris, Fayard, 2007
- Marco MODENESI (ed.), "Letteratura francese. L'Ottocento", Milano, Pearson, 2022
- Colette BECKER, Jean-Louis CABANÈS, "Le roman au XIXe siècle. L'explosion du genre", Paris, Bréal, 2018 (recommended text)
- 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 presented for the exam in the original French version (or with facing text) and in full text.
Part 1 - A
- François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND, "René" (ed. Anna Maria Scaiola), Venezia, Marsilio, 2001 (or any unabridged French edition).
- Honoré de BALZAC, "Le Père Goriot", Paris, Folio (or any other unabridged French edition)
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Le romantisme", Paris, Ellipses, 2008
- Gérard GENGEMBRE, "Balzac: le Napoléon des Lettres", Paris, Gallimard, 1992
- Anne-Marie LEFEBVRE, "Étude sur 'Le Père Goriot'", Paris, Ellipses, 2015
Part 2 - B
- Gustave FLAUBERT, "Madame Bovary", any unabridged 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, "L'Assommoir", any unabridged French edition
- Henri MITTERAND, "Zola et le Naturalisme", Paris, PUF, 2002
- Isabelle GUILLAUME, "Étude sur 'L'Assommoir' Zola", Paris, Ellipses, 2015
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of individual questions and it begins with reading, translation and it continues with critical interpretation of a passage chosen by the student according to the methods presented in class. The exam continues with some other questions from teacher, interaction between teacher and student, analysis and commentary of the same chosen work and other works in the program.
The duration of the exam may vary, but on average it coincides with about twenty minutes and is usually taken in Italian. The exam may be taken in French at the student's free choice.
The exam tends to test the student's knowledge of the works and critical bibliography in the syllabus, ability to contextualize authors and works, quality of exposition, accuracy in the use of language and specific terminology as well as the student's capacity for critical and personal reflection in the literary field and the application of the textual analysis methodologies. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse the grade (in such a case, it will be verbalized "ritirato" (withdrawn).
Examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA should be agreed upon with the lecturer by first contacting the appropriate office of the University.
The duration of the exam may vary, but on average it coincides with about twenty minutes and is usually taken in Italian. The exam may be taken in French at the student's free choice.
The exam tends to test the student's knowledge of the works and critical bibliography in the syllabus, ability to contextualize authors and works, quality of exposition, accuracy in the use of language and specific terminology as well as the student's capacity for critical and personal reflection in the literary field and the application of the textual analysis methodologies. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse the grade (in such a case, it will be verbalized "ritirato" (withdrawn).
Examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA should be agreed upon with the lecturer by first contacting the appropriate office of the University.
Educational website(s)
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