FRENCH 341
Survey of French Literature I: The Middle Ages through the Enlightenment
Professor: Geneviève Brock.
Office: Grainger B14
Telephone: 395-2182 (office); 969-2548 (home: 9am – 9pm)
Email: gbrock@longwood.edu
Office hours:T & Th (11:30 – 12:30); W (11-12); and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
(from Longwood Catalog)
A study of representative works and literary movements in French literature from the Middle Ages through the Enlightenment. Students will learn to use the methods and language of literary analysis. Prerequisite: FREN 202 or equivalent. 3 credits.
Textbooks:
Leggewie, Robert. Anthologie de la littérature française.
Tome I: (Des origines à la fin du 18ème siècle). Troisième édition. NY: Oxford UP, 1990.
A good dictionary (Harrap’s, Collins-Robert, Collins Gem, Bantam New College French and English dictionary)
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Read and understand texts representative of Milddle Ages
through 18th century French literature (evaluated through class
discussion and quizzes). GE outcome
1; criteria 1, 8, 9.
2. Identify and trace the development of major themes that
appear in the texts studied (evaluated through papers and examinations). GE
outcome 2; criteria 2, 4, 6.
3. Identify and describe the major literary movements
reflected by the texts (evaluated though examinations). GE outcome 1;
criteria 1, 7.
4. Demonstrate a knowledge of the historical, social, and political circumstances that form the context of these writers’ artistic production (evaluated thought papers and examinations). GE outcome 2; criteria 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
5. Analyze critically, using the vocabulary of literary analysis and taking into account formal and stylistics elements as well as themes and ideas, poems and passages from longer works (evaluated through papers and examinations). Outcome 2, 3; criteria 1, 2, 6, 7.
6. Find, evaluate, organize, and present information on Medieval, 16th, 17th, and 18th century French texts, writers, culture, and society (evaluated through papers and oral reports). Outcome 3; criteria 3, 6, 7.
NOTATION
Présence: 5%
Participation: 10%
Table française: 5%
Exposés (2): 20%
Interrogations écrites: 10%
Rédactions (2): 10%
Examen partiel: 10%
Essai: 10%
Examen final: 20%
FRENCH 341 COURSE
POLICIES
Attendance is mandatory. Absences will be excused only in the case of documented illness, observance of religious holidays, representation of the College in an official capacity, and recognizable emergencies. Unexcused absences (or lateness) will adversely affect a student’s grade, up to a letter grade for students who miss 10% of the scheduled class meeting times (3 classes). Students who miss a total of 25% of the scheduled class meeting times (7 classes), (both excused and unexcused absences), will receive an F for this course. It is the responsibility of each student to let the instructor know when an absence is excused. In case of doubt, please consult your instructor. No make-ups will be given for quizzes or exams missed without a valid excuse. Quizzes will not be announced in advance, and will generally take place weekly.
Participation: Students must not only be present physically in class, they must also come to class prepared (by having done the assigned work), and participate actively in class, which will be conducted in French.
All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified. Failure to understand an assignment, absence, or lateness, are not valid excuses for incomplete or late work. Students are responsible for work assigned or announcements made in class while they were absent or late. Before calling your instructor, use the “buddy system”, and make sure you have the phone number and email address of several of your classmates. Late work will not be accepted without a note attached to it stating the reason for lateness, and will be penalized if late without a valid reason.
Table française: Students are required to attend the French Table six times during the semester, for a minimum of 30 minutes each time. The Table française will be held in Grainger B16 , on Wednesdays 2:00-2:30pm.
Students may not eat or chew gum during class, as these activities make speaking French more difficult.
Honor Code: Students are expected to live by the Longwood University Honor Code. All work done for a grade must be pledged. Students may not receive any help from anyone in writing their essays, but may consult their instructor.
Disability: Any student who feels that s/he may need an accommodation based on a disability (including learning disabilities), should make an appointment with her/his instructor to discuss the course format and how it can be modified to meet the student’s needs.
FRENCH 341
FRENCH LITERATURE FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE 18TH CENTURY
SPRING 2001
Mardi 16-1 Introduction; CAPE test; Système D
Jeudi
18-1 Moyen Age: p.3-11: la
Chanson de Roland
Mardi 23-1 Moyen-Age: p.11-15: la littérature courtoise
Jeudi 25-1 Moyen-Age:
p.22-32: la littérature bourgeoise; le théâtre
Mardi
30-1 Moyen-Age: p.44-51: la
poésie lyrique
Jeudi
1-2 16ème siècle: p.59-65:
Rabelais
Mardi 6-2 16ème
siècle: p.71-74: Calvin et Luther. Debate
Jeudi 8-2 16ème siècle: p.77-78 (XIX); p.80-82 (ode à sa
maîtresse, XLIV, XLIII); P.83 (élégies); p.86-87 (du Bellay); p.88 (XXXI): la
poésie
Mardi 13-2 REDACTION
#1
16ème siècle: p.93-99: Montaigne
Jeudi
15-2 CHOISIR UN SUJET
D’ESSAI
17ème siècle: p.105-118:
Descartes; Malherbe
Mardi
20-2 17ème siècle:
p.118-128: “Le Cid”
Jeudi
22-2 17ème siècle:
p.128-138: “le Cid”
Mardi
27-2 17ème siècle:
p.138-146: “Le Cid”
Jeudi 1-3 EXAMEN
PARTIEL
Mardi 6-3 TITRE, PLAN, ET BIBLIOGRAPHIE DE L’ESSAI 17ème siècle: p.176-191: “Le Bourgeois gentilhomme”
Jeudi 8-3 17ème siècle: p.191-204: “Le Bourgeois gentilhomme”
Mardi 20-3 17ème siècle: p.204-215: “Le Bourgeois gentilhomme”
Jeudi
22-3 17ème siècle:
p.234-236: La Rochefoucault: “Maximes”
Mardi
27-3 REDACTION #2
Jeudi 29-3 18ème siècle: p.259-263;
p.290-97: Montesquieu: “Les Lettres persanes”: “De l’Esprit des lois”
Mardi 3-4 18ème siècle: p.310-355: Voltaire: “Candide”
Jeudi 5-4 18ème siècle: p.380-88: Rousseau
Mardi 10-4 REDACTION
#3
18ème siècle
p.393-96: Rousseau; debate on education
Jeudi 12-4 18ème siècle: p.400-414: Beaumarchais: “Le Mariage de Figaro”
Mardi 17-4 révisions et présentations
Jeudi 19-4 ESSAI: première ébauche; révisions et présentations
Mardi 24-4 révisions et présentations
Jeudi 26-4 ESSAI: version finale; révisions et présentations
EXAMEN
FINAL: MERCREDI
2 MAI, de 9h à 12h
COMPOSITIONS,
ESSAY, ORAL REPORTS
Your compositions must be written on a computer; double-spaced
3 or 4 pages
Compare two of the Medieval texts we have studied together
(style and tone, social classes, realism, emotions, etc.)
A comparative study of Le Cid and of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.
Compare style and tone, characters, social classes, values, morality, etc.
What kind of government is Montesquieu advocating?
What are the justifications for his choice?
How does he convince his reader?
Students will choose their own topic, after consultation with the instructor.
Students will use a minimum of four sources for their research:
at least one book, at least one journal article, Web articles.
6 to 8 pages; written on computer; spell-checked in French, MLA format, double spaced
Each student will present two oral reports on materials related to the texts and the authors studied.
Students will choose their own topics after consultation with the instructor.
10-15 minutes