31334 - French Literature 3

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students know aspects and problems of the history of literature. They know analytically the works of the different authors, are able to evaluate their literary quality and to analyze them according to precise critical methodologies. They have acquired the theoretical knowledge necessary to recognize the formal, thematic and stylistic components of literary works, and are able to link them to precise historical and cultural contexts. They are able to translate and comment with the property the contents of the works studied, from a linguistic, historical and philological point of view.

Course contents

Through readings of full texts or selected passages of poetry and prose, the main aspects of the poetics of «French classicism» (Boileau) will be expounded and some of the forms in which it expressed itself in the XVII century will be analysed in detail, from traditional theatrical genres, such as tragi-comedy (Corneille, Le Cid, a selection of passages), tragedy (Racine, Bajazet) and comedy (Molière, Misanthrope), to the minor forms of prose writing, such as novel Mme de Lafayette (Princesse de Clèves), pamphlet and aphoristic writing (La Bruyère, La Rochefoucauld, Pascal).

Readings/Bibliography

For ALL the students, whether attending or non attending, the bibliography is one and the same.

Storia europea della letteratura francese, I. Dalle origini al Seicento, edited by L. Sozzi, Torino, Einaudi, 2013, part III, “Il Seicento”, pp. 239-484.

Integral reading of original text:

Racine, Bajazet (recommended pocket edition, Gallimard);

Molière , Misanthrope (recommended pocket edition, Gallimard);

Mme de Lafayette, La Princesse de Clèves (recommended pocket edition Gallimard);

Nota bene: two Dossiers (part I e part II), containing a choice of selected texts (both critical and literary, such as a selection of passages from Le Cid de Corneille and from the Art poétique by Boileau), which can be downloaded (in PDF format) at the web page of the teacher (all the files which appear among the "materiali didattici" must be carefully studied in order to pass the examination)

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

During the oral test, partly in Italian and partly in French, the basic knowledge of the subject matter of the course, that is to say the historical and literary period of the XVII century, will be assessed. See the bibliography for the pages of Storia europea della letteratura francese (published by Einaudi, edited by L. Sozzi), which is MANDATORY STUDY for ALL the students, whether attending or non attending, and is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to pass the examination.

For ALL the students, whether attending or non attending, the exam program is one and the same.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching tools

Didactic materials will be available to the students both online and in pdf format, uploaded in AMS CAMPUS-ALMA D.

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Campi