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CS92PROD
Special Delivery: The French Epistolary Novel
FREN 273
Spring 2012 not offered
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.

Essential Capabilities: None
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RLAN
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Student Option
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (ARHA)(CGST-MN)(COL)(FRST-MN)(FRST)(RMST)

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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