Weird Literature: Tales of the Supernatural, Inexplicable, and Bizarre
FREN 345
Fall 2024
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01
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In this course we'll look at fantastic literature (broadly defined) from 19th century France: tales of the supernatural, the inexplicable, and the bizarre. This genre flourished in post-enlightenment, post-revolutionary France. Part of our task will be to consider what made stories of the strange so appealing to French authors at this point in time, and how writers used the genre to grapple with societal changes and scientific advances. We will examine some formal definitions of the fantastic and the uncanny, and work towards our own characterizations, as we consider issues such as madness and sanity, provincial superstition, the clash of science and the inexplicable, and the place of gender within such narratives. We will also consider the reception of these texts: how they were illustrated and/or adapted and where (if at all) we can find echoes of them in modern culture. Authors to be studied include Maupassant, Merimée, and Villiers de L'Isle-Adam. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (FRST-MN)(FRST) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
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