30646 - French Literature 2 (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

Students are 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 Wa, testimonies, populist novels, proletarian literature, socialist realism), especially in relation to the realism of the XIXth century, but also in relation 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 will be held in the first semester.

Readings/Bibliography

Critical texts
- Federico Bertoni, Realismo e letteratura. Una storia possible, Torino, Einaudi, 2007;
- P. Hamon, Puisque réalisme il y a, Genève, éditions de la Baconnière, 2015;
- H. Mitterrand, L'illusion réaliste de Balzac à Aragon, Paris, PUF, "Ecriture", 1994;
- some articles the teacher will provide for.

Novels
- H. Barbusse, Le Feu;
- G. Chevallier, La Peur;
- L.-F. Céline, Voyage au bout de la nuit;
- L. Guilloux, La maison du peuple;
- P. Nizan, Antoine Bloyé.

Bibliography can go through modifications; if you are in doubt, please contact prof. Gnocchi.

Teaching methods

The course will be held partly in lecture form and then, in the second part of the course, students will presentate some texts on the basis of the critical essays analysed together.

Assessment methods

For students who attend the course, the exam consists on the presentation of a text in the classroom and in the delivery of a paper on the same topic, followed by a brief oral exam. Students who don't attend the course will present their paper and go through an oral exam on the whole course.

Teaching tools

Power-point projections, documents uploaded on line.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Chiara Gnocchi