Special Delivery: The French Epistolary Novel
FREN 273
Fall 2005
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
COL 301 |
Before the 18th century, the first-person narrative was generally perceived as self-indulgent, not to mention distasteful. Eighteenth-century readers, however, became fascinated with the looking glass of the first person, with the intimacy, immediacy, and confessional aspect of the "je" narrator. It comes as no surprise, then, that the 18th-century was the golden age of the ROMAN EPISTOLAIRE, the novel composed entirely of letters. In this class we will read epistolary novels that vary widely in both form and content: from Madame de Graffigny's critique of European society (Lettres d'une peruvienne), to Mme de Charriere's praise of female independence (Lettres de Mistriss Henley), to Laclos' portrait of aristocratic libertinage (Les liaisons dangereuses). We will also read two examples of the epistolary novel's stylistic counterpart, the roman-memoire. |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| 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 Requirement for: (ARHA)(COL)(FRST-MN)(FRST)(RMST) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Guilleragues, LETTRES PORTUGAISES
Montesquieu, LETTRES PERSANES
Madame de Graffigny, LETTRES D'UNE PERUVIENNE
Mme de Charriere, LETTRES DE MISTRISS HENLEY
Laclos, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES
Diderot, LA RELIGIEUSE
Prevost, MANON LESCAUT
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Examinations and Assignments:
Three papers, one term paper, oral presentations. |
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 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 for credit. All others must take it for a letter grade. |
| Instructor(s): Curran,Andrew Times: .M...F. 11:00AM-12:20PM; Location: RLAN106; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 18 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: -2 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 9 | FR: 1 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 6 | 1st Ranked: 3 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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