OVERVIEW

L'Ancien Régime et la naissance de la France moderne.

The history of culture and literature of the Ancien Régime (1600-1789) constitutes a fundamental basis for understanding contemporary France. The birth and the codification of literary genres, the consolidation of the unitary language, the advent of absolute monarchy are the foundations on which the French identity was built.

The course is delivered in French and is aimed at students with an avancé language level.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities (lectures and online activities) and individual study will enable the student to:

- know the general lines of the development of the French culture of the Ancien Régime;

- know the general lines of the history of the Ancien Régime literature;

- be able to read and understand short texts in French;

- use basic analytical methods and tools to interpret the works of the main authors;

- contextualize literary productions in culture and in the historical period of reference.

The course aims to contribute to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda:

Goal 4. Provide quality, equitable and inclusive education and learning opportunities for all
Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development

PREREQUISITES

Good knowledge and comprehension of the French language in order to read and understand a literary text. The course will be delivered in French.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures during which multimedia tools and aids will also be used. Self-assessment and flipped classroom activities are planned. The performance of these activities will be assessed and may be worth up to two points more than the final grade.

In collaboration with city theatres, there will be promotions for theatre evenings and meetings with directors and actors of French and/or Francophone shows featured in the 2024/25 programme.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

PROGRAM A FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS (frequency monitored: 50% of attendance)

The course will focus on the presentation of some aspects of the development of the French culture and civilization of the Ancien Régime. The most important cultural elements that constituted the specificity of French culture will be presented: the centralization of power and public life, the expansion of overseas France, the control of cultural production. Constant reference will be made to the reading of theoretical texts and literary texts.

Works that will be studied in detail:

• Madame de Lafayette, La Princesse de Clèves 
• Molière, L’Avare  
• Jean Racine, Phèdre
• Abbé Prévost, Manon Lescaut 

PROGRAM B FOR NON ATTENDING

History of the French Literature and culture during the Ancien Régime (1600-1789) on one of the manuals listed in the bibliography. Reading of 6 integral works  

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides used during lessons and other teaching materials will be available on aulaweb. In general, the notes taken during the lessons and the material on aulaweb are sufficient for the preparation of the exam.

The books listed below are suggested as supporting texts for attending students, the manual is mandatory for other students.

Manuals in Italian:

• G. Macchia e altri, La letteratura francese, ed. BUR, 5 volumi.
• Brunel Pierre, Bellenger Yvonne, Couty Daniel, Storia della letteratura francese, vol.1+2, Cideb ed.
• Storia europea della letteratura francese, Torino, Einaudi, 2013, volume 1 (Dalle origini al Seicento) e volume 2 (Dal Settecento all'età contemporanea)
• Antologia cronologica della letteratura francese, Milano, LED-CEA, (5 vol.)

Manuals in French:

• X. Darcos, Histoire de la littérature française, Hachette, 2019
• Histoire de la France littéraire, Paris, PUF, 2006
• D. Bergez, Précis de littérature française, Paris, A. Colin, 2010.
• Histoire de la littérature française, GF Flammarion, 1996

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CHIARA ROLLA (President)

MARIE GABORIAUD

ELISA BRICCO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons start: martedì 1.10.2024

CLASS SCHEDULE:

martedì 13h-14h : aula B Polo didattico

venerdì 12h-14h : aula B Polo didattico

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS (frequency monitored: 50% of attendance) Written exam in French, consisting of a test with closed and open questions starting from the analysis of a literary text. The test is used (A) to evaluate the learning of the concepts and basic information transmitted during the course or through the educational material made available on Aulaweb or through the study of the manual, and (B) the ability to set simple applications of these concepts and information basic, correctly interpreting literary examples, applying the concepts and information presented during the lessons.

FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: oral test in French : The candidate must demonstrate the knowledge of the history of the French literature and culture of the Ancien Régime (1600-1789), that he has read the 6 complete works and be able to explain its contents, the literary and generic characteristics, the authorial and stylistic specificities in relation to the period and to the author's literary movement / school. In the assessment of the exam will be taken into account, as well as the knowledge of the program to be carried out, also the capacity and accuracy in the use of the specific language of the discipline.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam for attending students will verify the effective acquisition of basic knowledge on the French culture and literature of the Ancien Régime and their identification in a text. The open questions will allow to evaluate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge for the analysis of a text. The oral examination for non-attending students will verify the effective acquisition of basic knowledge on the French culture and literature of the Ancien Régime, will focus mainly on the reading of complete texts carried out by the candidates and will have the purpose to evaluate not only if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but if he has acquired the ability to situate the texts in the historical period in which they were written. The exhibition capacity and accuracy in the use of the specific language of the discipline will also be evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.