30646 - French Literature 2 (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

Studentsare requested to enter critical debates on modern French literature, with particular attention to the relationship between texts and their contexts. They are requested to show ability in the close reading of the texts proposed; to be able to elaborate critical analyses in the dialogue between theories and literary writings; to develop critical thinking.

Course contents

We will concentrate on the poetics of realism during the inter-war period (First World War stories, "témoignages", "récits de métier", populist novels, proletarian literature, socialist realism), in relation to the realism of the 19th century but also to the "new realism" represented by the Nouveau Roman. It will be an opportunity to revise and revisit the notion of realism in its relations with literature.

The course is built largely in class, through the interaction between teacher and students and between students. Students are invited to read some texts, week after week, and to discuss them during the lessons. Towards the end of the course they will present to the rest of the class a literary text (among those suggested by the teacher), analyzed with the critical tools studied up to that moment. This oral presentation is not mandatory, but for those who choose do it there will be no oral exam: it will only consist of a discussion about the paper that the student has to prepare on the same topic (see the section "Assessment methods").

The course will be held in the first semester.

Readings/Bibliography

Critical texts
- J. Kaempfer, Poétique du récit de guerre, Paris, Corti, 1998, p. 7-14 e 211-273 (disponibile in fotocopie)*
- Ph. Hamon, Puisque réalisme il y a, Paris, LaBaconnière, 2015, p. 5-51 (disponibile in fotocopie)*
- H. Mitterand, L'Illusion réaliste. De Balzac à Aragon, p. 1-9 e 183-201 (disponibile in fotocopie)*
- F. Bertoni, Realismo e letteratura. Una storia possibile, Torino, Einaudi, 2007, p. 17-36, 92-113, 226-229, 260-261 e 313-317 (disponibile in fotocopie)*
- J. Meizoz, L'Âge du roman parlant (1919-1939). Écrivains, critiques, linguistes et pédagogues en débat, 2e éd., Genève, Droz, 2015, p. 15-41, 211-229, 244-282, 323-391
- R. Barthes, "L'effet de réel", Communications, n. 11, 1968, p. 84-89, <http://www.persee.fr/doc/comm_0588-8018_1968_num_11_1_1158>
- N. Wolf, Le Peuple dans le roman français de Zola à Céline, Paris, PUF, 1991, p. 48-67, 79-84*;
- M. C. Gnocchi, «Constant Malva et ses modèles : une lecture de Borins», Textyles, n. 54, 2019, 54, p. 127-139, <https://journals.openedition.org/textyles/3146>
- M. C. Gnocchi, « Les poétiques réalistes de l’entre-deux-guerres », dans S.-V. Borloz, C. Dufour et A. Roncaccia, Le Réalisme et ses discours, Firenze, Franco Cesati, 2019, in corso di stampa*
- Ph. Baudorre, « ‘Les gros mots' : Le Feu d'Henri Barbusse », in C. Grenouillet et É. Reverzy (dir.), Les Voix du peuple dans la littérature des XIXe et XXe siècles, Strasbourg, Presses Universitaires de Strasbourg, 2006, p. 167-180 (disponibile in fotocopie)*
- Ph. Baudorre, «Le réalisme socialiste français des années Trente: un faux départ », in P. Aron, G. Sapiro (dir.), Repenser le réalisme socialiste, Société & Représentations, n. 15, 2003, p. 3-38, <https://www.cairn.info/revue-societes-et-representations-2003-1-page-13.htm>
- Ph. Baudorre, « Zola, 1929-1935 ou les ambiguïtés d’un retour de Zola », Les Cahiers naturalistes, n. 65, 1991, p. 7-23 (disponibile in fotocopie)*
- A.-M. Gaydier, « L'écriture de la parole dans les évocations de la Grande Guerre », in Écrire la guerre, études réunies par C. Milkovitch-Rioux et R. Pickering, Clermont-Ferrand, Presses universitaires Blais Pascal, 2000, p. 75-85 (disponibile in fotocopie)* 

Novels
- H. Barbusse, Le Feu;
- G. Chevallier, La Peur;
- J. Giono, Un de Baumugnes;
- H. Poulaille, Le Pain quotidien;
- P. Hamp, Gens;
- J. Pallu, L'Usine;
- L.-F. Céline, Voyage au bout de la nuit;
- P. Nizan, Antoine Bloyé.

Bibliography can go through modifications; if you are in doubt, please contact the teacher.

Teaching methods

The course will be held partly in lecture form (but we will discuss together some books students have to read week after week) and then, in the second part of the course, students will presentate some texts on the basis of the critical essays analyzed together.

Assessment methods

For attenders (about 70% of the lectures), the exam consists on: the presentation of a text in the classroom (30% of the final grade); the delivery of a paper on the same topic (40%), followed by a brief interview/discussion about the paper on the examination day (10%). The way students participate in the class and discuss the texts during the course is also evaluated (20%).

For non attenders: 1) paper on a subject to be agreed with the teacher 40%; 2) discussion of the same 10%; 3) oral exam on the entire program 50%.

For students who attend at least 70% of the lectures but don't make any oral presentation: 1) paper 40%; 2) discussion of the paper 10%; 3) participation and discussion in class 20%; 4) oral exam on the entire program 30%.

The rules for the paper will be uploaded to IOL-teaching online.

Teaching tools

Power-point projections, documents uploaded on line.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Chiara Gnocchi