French Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide non-specialist students an overall preparation in relation to French Literature and Civilisation, with a focus on influence and mediation with Italian Literature.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: 1) An essential framework of French Literature, according to the periods and authors considered, 2) Understanding basic elements in order to analyse texts' structure (metrical, stylistic, narrative devices).
Skills. 1) Ability to identify the main expressive features (stylistic, thematic and structural) of every literary work and recognize the author's identity in it 2) Ability to date literary works in chronological and cultural connection with Italian literature, 3) Ability to use coherently critical contributions 4) Ability to read works and identify themes and formal issues.
Skills. 1) Ability to identify the main expressive features (stylistic, thematic and structural) of every literary work and recognize the author's identity in it 2) Ability to date literary works in chronological and cultural connection with Italian literature, 3) Ability to use coherently critical contributions 4) Ability to read works and identify themes and formal issues.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled"Urban poetics: the city in the text of Baudelaire, Queneau and Mathias Énard.
The course aims to conduct a reflection on the representation of the city - in particular Paris and Constantinople - in the imagination of some great writers of French Literature. First of all, we intend to delve into the theme of the city as a semantic space that literature both codifies and deciphers, according to a dynamic of infinite superimpositions: the city as a construction of signs, mostly opaque and deceptive; the city as a theatre of memory, an elected place where history engraves its signs and civilisation visibly sediments; the city as an architecture of ideal conjunctions. The dense and progressive relationship between urban fabric and literary text develops in several directions and takes on contradictory values that the course intends to highlight.
The course aims to conduct a reflection on the representation of the city - in particular Paris and Constantinople - in the imagination of some great writers of French Literature. First of all, we intend to delve into the theme of the city as a semantic space that literature both codifies and deciphers, according to a dynamic of infinite superimpositions: the city as a construction of signs, mostly opaque and deceptive; the city as a theatre of memory, an elected place where history engraves its signs and civilisation visibly sediments; the city as an architecture of ideal conjunctions. The dense and progressive relationship between urban fabric and literary text develops in several directions and takes on contradictory values that the course intends to highlight.
Prerequisites for admission
passive knowledge of French is required: Italian translations are used individually, but texts are read in class in French for stylistic commentary on the original. A small part of the critical material may be in French.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching: presentation of the subject and contextualisation of the authors and works chosen; analysis of 3 texts examined in their various articulations (rhetorical and stylistic devices, poetic or narrative structures), use of images, viewing of Zazie dans le métro (1960) by Louis Malle.
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Bibliographical indications
For 6 credits:
Charles Baudelaire, I Fiori del male, with French text, by Giorgio Caproni, Venezia, Marsilio, 2018. The text is accompanied by useful notes for the purpose of the course.
Raymond Queneau, Zazie dans le métro, the following translation is recommended: Zazie dans le métro, traduzione di Franco Fortini, con un saggio di Roland Barthes e una testimonianza di Louis Malle, Torino, Einaudi, 1960.. The essay by Roland Barthes is examination material.
For the 9 credits
Mathias Énard, Parle-leurs de batailles, des rois et d'éléphants, Arles, Actes du Sud, 2010 (si segnala la traduzione di Yasmina Melaouah, Parlami di battaglie, di re e di elefanti, Roma, Edizioni e/o, 2019).
Critical essays available in PDF in my Ariel from the end of October.
For 6 credits:
Charles Baudelaire, I Fiori del male, with French text, by Giorgio Caproni, Venezia, Marsilio, 2018. The text is accompanied by useful notes for the purpose of the course.
Raymond Queneau, Zazie dans le métro, the following translation is recommended: Zazie dans le métro, traduzione di Franco Fortini, con un saggio di Roland Barthes e una testimonianza di Louis Malle, Torino, Einaudi, 1960.. The essay by Roland Barthes is examination material.
For the 9 credits
Mathias Énard, Parle-leurs de batailles, des rois et d'éléphants, Arles, Actes du Sud, 2010 (si segnala la traduzione di Yasmina Melaouah, Parlami di battaglie, di re e di elefanti, Roma, Edizioni e/o, 2019).
Critical essays available in PDF in my Ariel from the end of October.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral examen : The oral examen consists of an interview on the scheduled topic. The student have to analyse the texts in French presented in the course, know how to contextualise them (historical-literary context), know how to recognise the elements of reflection that the city offers, as a theme and rhetorical-poetic form; know how to analyse the text in its various articulations (rhetorical and stylistic devices, poetic and narrative structures), in order to define the traits of an urban poetic.
Assessment criteria: ability to culturally situate the works analysed; ability to coherently use literary critical contributions on the subject; ability to reason critically; quality of exposition; competence in critical reflection on the city/text relationship, starting from the literary works analysed.
Assessment criteria: ability to culturally situate the works analysed; ability to coherently use literary critical contributions on the subject; ability to reason critically; quality of exposition; competence in critical reflection on the city/text relationship, starting from the literary works analysed.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday from 2.30 to 7.30 pm.
square S.Alessandro 1, 2nd floor