French Literature (2017/2018)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at introducing some historical, literary and methodological notions in order to consider the literary production of some French speaking geographical areas such as Québec, Africa and Antilles focusing on a major problematic : the choice of a literary language. The mentioned areas are characterized by an important diglossia which is often the expression of different and conflictual societies and cultures. The use of a non-hexagonal literary variety of French results therefore particularly important, since the language adopted functions as an instrument of identity, political and cultural expression.
The course aims at furnishing the historical and literary competences in order to introduce later considerations on the relationship between language, identity and literature in the very specific contexts considered.

Module 1 - Paola Perazzolo - 18 hours - 3 CFU

After introducing some necessary theorist notions concerning the very concept of « Littératures Francophones », the first part of the course will focus on the social and literary context of the second half of twentieth-century in Québec. More specifically, the course will focus on some different forms of the expression of « québecitude » taking place after the Quiet Revolution of 1960. We will consider most of all the dramatic cycle of Belles-Sœurs by Michel Tremblay, one of the main authors using the « joual » in his literary production, and insofar attributing a political and social meaning to the language. Knowledge of the literary coeval context will be furnished in advance during the course to better understand the originality of Tremblay’s work and its importance in regard to the expression of a national identity. Insofar, the dramaturgical analysis of one play of the cycle will be introduced by the presentation of other poetical and narrative texts.

Bibliographie primaire:
- Michel TREMBLAY, une pièce du cycle des Belles Sœurs (à préciser)

Bibliographie secondaire:
Manuels d’histoire de la littérature québécoise:
- Michel Biron, François Dumont, Élisabeth Nardout-Lafarge, Histoire de la littérature québécoise, Montréal, Éditions du Boréal, 2007, (pages indiquées pendant le cours)
- Y. Gascquy-Resch, Littérature du Québec, Vanves, Edicef, 1994, (pages indiquées pendant le cours)

Critical texts:

- Supplementary and complete bibliographical references will be furnished at the beginning of the course, and critical essays will be available in the e-learning session. Students who can’t attend the course are kindly requested to contact the professor (see the indications on web page) in order to establish a programme; in any case, a specific and detailed bibliography will be available in the e-learning session.

The course will be held entirely in French. Students who can’t attend the course can refer to specific bibliographical indications in order to be able to prepare the program and acquire the competences and the knowledge useful to analyse the proposed texts.


Module 2 - Laura Colombo - 18 hours - 3 CFU

The course aims at examining the problems of the choice of French Language in Maghreb, Sub-saharian Africa and Antilles, through the analysis of pages by Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Henri Lopès, Georges Ngal, Aimé Césaire, Edouard Glissant,and the reading of L'Amour, la Fantasia by Assia Djebar (Paris, Le Livre de Poche, dernière édition)
All clarifications will be uploaded on e-learning

Oral examination. The evaluation will consider two parts : the knowledge of the history of literature of Québec which is at the core of the course (1950-1980 circa), the capacity of critical analysis of the proposed anthological texts plus the dramaturgical analysis of one play by Michel Tremblay.

Module 2
Oral examination, in French. Students will have to answer to questions about the general themes of the course, and to analyse the texts read during the course.

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2017/2018