10005 - French Literature II

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to read a literary text in French, both in textual and intertextual mode, with the necessary references to the history of French literature in relation to European literature. They will sharpen, as much as possible, their stylistic competences within their linguistic competences. They will have an active knowledge of French.

Course contents

The course, which will focus on the literary production of the French 18th century, will be organized into two modules: the first, taught by Prof. Bruna Conconi, will explore the historical-cultural context and the readership, and will provide a perspective on the most relevant literary models, themes, and forms of the century; the second module, taught by Prof. Michele Morselli, will specifically analyze Prévost’s Manon Lescaut, Voltaire’s Zadig, Diderot’s Le Fils naturel, Beaumarchais’ Le Barbier de Séville, and Laclos’ Les Liaisons dangereuses.

Readings/Bibliography

Literary History

Lionello SOZZI (ed.), Storia europea della letteratura francese. II. Dal Settecento all’età contemporanea, Torino, Einaudi, 2013 (only 18th century).

or

Jean-Yves TADIÉ (ed.), La littérature française: dynamique et histoire, Paris, Gallimard, 2007 (only 18th century).

 

Readings:

Prévost, Manon Lescaut

Voltaire, Zadig

Diderot, Le fils naturel

Beaumarchais, Le Barbier de Séville

Laclos, Les Liaisons dangereuses

 

Texts analized during classes (uploaded to the VIRTUALE platform) and the following articles/chapters of books:

Erich Auerbach, Le souper interrompu, in Mimésis. La représentation du réel dans la littérature occidentale, Paris, Gallimard, 1984, pp. 395-428.

Arnold Hauser, Il nuovo pubblico della letteratura, in Storia sociale dell'arte, Torino, Einaudi, 1982, vol. II, pp. 52-95.

Colas Duflos, Les aventures de Sophie. La philosophie dans le roman au XVIII^e siècle, Paris, CNRS Éditions, 2013, pp. 9-41 (chap. I, Voyages merveilleux de Sophie dans la Romancie e chap. II, Récit romanesque et discours philosophique).

Carlo Ginzburg, Tolleranza e commercio. Auerbach legge Voltaire, in Id., Il filo e le tracce. Vero falso finto, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2006, pp. 112-137.

Lawrence W. LYNCH, Richardson's Influence on the Concept of the Novel in Eighteenth-Century France, in «Comparative Literature Studies», vol. 14, n. 3, settembre 1977, pp. 233-243. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/40245920)

Grahame JONES, Manon Lescaut: la structure du roman et le rôle du chevalier Des Grieux, in «Revue d’histoire littéraire de la France», vol. 71, n. 3, 1971, pp. 425-438.

Yves MORAUD, Figaro: l’histoire se précipite, in La Conquête de la liberté de Scapin à Figaro. Valets, servantes et soubrettes de Molière à Beaumarchais, Paris, PUF, 1981, pp. 137-182.

Jacques CHOUILLET, La période d’expansion dramatique, in La Formation des idées esthétiques de Diderot, Paris, Armand Colin, 1973, pp. 418-453.

Michel DELON, P.-A. Choderlos de Laclos, Les liaisons dangereuses, Paris, PUF, 1986, pp. 78-93.

Jean FABRE, Les Liaisons dangereuses, roman de l’ironie, in Idées sur le roman, de Madame de Lafayette au Marquis de Sade, Paris, Klincksieck, 1979, pp. 143-165.

Non-attending students will prepare the final exam following the previous bibliography with the support of this additional reading:

Antologia cronologica della letteratura francese. Il Settecento, Milano, LED, 1997:

Dialogues di Lahontan

Histoire de Gil Blas di Lesage

Les Mille et une Nuits tradotte da Galland

Lettres persanes di Montesquieu

Manon Lescaut di Prévost

Le Philosophe anglais di Prévost

La vie de Marianne di Marivaux

Lettres philosophiques di Voltaire

Le Sopha di Crébillon fils

Lettres d’une Péruvienne di Madame de Graffigny

Lettres anglaises, ou Histoire de Clarissa Harlove tradotta da Prévost

Discours sur l’origine de l’inégalité di Rousseau

voce « Genève » dell’Encyclopédie

Candide di Voltaire

La Nouvelle Héloïse di Rousseau

Les Confessions di Rousseau

Paradoxe sur le comédien di Diderot

Le Barbier de Séville de Beaumarchais

Jacques le Fataliste di Diderot

Tableau de Paris di Mercier

Les liaisons dangereuses di Laclos

Les 120 journées de Sodome di Sade

Voyage en Syrie et en Égypte di Volney

Paul et Virginie di Bernardin de Saint Pierre

L’Émigré di Sénac de Meilhan

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures; participation is nevertheless highly encouraged.

Assessment methods

The exam consists in an oral interview during which the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student will be evaluated . The student will be invited to discuss the texts covered during the course and to move within the sources and bibliographical material in order to be able to identify in them the useful information. The achievement of an organic vision of the issues addressed during the classes and their critical use, which demonstrate ownership of a mastery of expression and specific language, will be assessed with marks of excellence (28-30). Mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of matter, synthesis and analysis of non-articulating and / or correct language but not always appropriate will lead to discrete assessments (23-27); training gaps and / or inappropriate language - although in a context of minimal knowledge of the material - will lead to votes that will not exceed the sufficiency (18-22). Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of guidance within the reference materials offered during the course will lead to failed assessments.

Teaching tools

At the end of the course texts analized during classes will be uploaded on VIRTUALE.

Office hours

See the website of Bruna Conconi

See the website of Michele Morselli