The Business of Letters: The French Epistolary Novel
FREN 273
Fall 2020 not offered
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Before the 18th century, the first-person narrative was often perceived as self-indulgent, not to mention distasteful. Eighteenth-century readers, however, became fascinated with the intimacy, immediacy, realism, and confessional aspect of highly charged first-person perspectives. It comes as no surprise, then, that this was the golden age of the ROMAN EPISTOLAIRE, the novel composed entirely of letters. In this class we will read a number of epistolary novels that allowed for the development of highly subjective, and often challenging, points of view. Sample works include Madame de Graffigny's critique of European society (LETTRES D'UNE PERUVIENNE), Mme de Charriere's praise of female independence (LETTRES DE MISTRISS HENLEY), Montesquieu's political satire of French life (LETTRES PERSANES), and Laclos's tale of seduction and aristocratic libertinage (LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES). We will also read one example of the epistolary novel's stylistic counterpart, the ROMAN-MEMOIRE. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (ARHA)(CGST-MN)(COL)(FRST-MN)(FRST)(RMST) |
Major Readings:
Tentative readings include: Madame de Graffigny, LETTRES d'UNE PERUVIENNE, Montesquieu, LETTRES PERSANES, Laclos LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, Guilleragues, LETTRES PORTUGAISES.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Students in FR273 will receive grades based on active class participation, their progress in the class, formal class presentations, as well as their writing assignments. There will be a minimum of three writing assignments of approximately 3- 5 pages and a final paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
While any student who has completed FREN 215 (with a minimum grade of B) or has placed out of FREN 215 through the placement test may sign up for this course, it is an introductory course intended for students who have just completed FREN 215 or have not taken more than one course in French beyond 215 and not yet studied abroad in a French-speaking country. Readings, written assignments and class discussions will be in French. Only COL students may take this course CR/U. All others must take it for a letter grade. Students who are not admitted to the course through pre-registration are strongly encouraged to submit an enrollment request and attend the first class. |
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