OVERVIEW

La littérature et la presse de la Révolution à la fin du XIXe siècle.  In 19th-century France, the development of literature is in close connection with that of journalism. The course will propose the study of literary movements and authors in relation to their practice of literary journalism. Anthology readings and integral works will focus on the journalistic activity of writers and the fortunes of their works in the periodical press.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student has a satisfactory knowledge of general issues and individual aspects of the history of literature. He/she is able to understand and translate texts in the original language, has acquired the basic theoretical knowledge necessary for the critical interpretation of their contents and is able to comment on and expound texts according to specific methodologies for the analysis of literary texts.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

- know the general outlines of the development of nineteenth-century French culture;

- know the general outlines of the history of nineteenth-century literature;

- be able to read and understand texts in French;

- use analytical methods and tools to interpret texts;

- contextualize literary productions in the relevant culture and historical period;

- develop group work strategies.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of the history of Ancien Régime literature. Knowledge of the French language at the B1 level of the QCFR.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures during which multimedia tools and aids will also be used. Group textual and intermediate analysis activities are planned. The performance of these activities will be evaluated and may be worth up to a maximum of two points to the final grade.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

FIRST PART : La littérature et la presse de la Révolution à la fin du XIXe siècle (36 hours - 6 CFU - first semester)

The course will focus on presenting the relationship between the development of the periodical press and literary writing and publication in the nineteenth century. The most important cultural elements that constituted the specificity of French culture at the time will be presented: the birth of the modern idea of nation, the birth and development of the press, and the development of literary modernity. Constant reference will be made to the reading of theoretical and literary texts.

Course topics

1. History of the press in France from the Revolution to the First World War

2. Literary formats linked to the newspaper: serial novels, reportage

3. Writers and the press: Théophile Gautier, Balzac, Sand, Colette

4. Naturalism and the press:  Zola, Maupassant

Integral readings

- Balzac, Illusions perdues, Part II "Un grand homme de province à Paris" ;

- Guy de Maupassant, Bel-Ami;

SECOND PART: "Littérature et musique" (18 hours - 3 CFU - second semester) 

This course deals with the links between music and literature in the 19th and 20th centuries, both in the press and in the French novel. An attempt will be made to understand to what extent writers from the 19th century to the present day have given space to music in their works, what are the literary manifestations of melomania, and how music has been able to influence literature. 
Course topics:

1.  The nineteenth century and the mystique of art : Hugo, Sand, Stendhal, Balzac
2.  Music in the modern novel : Proust, Romain Rolland, Gide
3.  Jazz and literature : Boris Vian
4.  Current music and the literary treatment of margins : Virginie Despentes

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All documents used during lectures and other supporting teaching materials will be available on Aulaweb.

The books below are suggested as study support texts that the student can consult to check the adequacy of his or her preparation for the exam. 

TEXTS

The history of literature textbooks indicated are in the library and should be used in relation to the course topic:

- La littérature et la presse des Lumières à l'Affaire Dreyfus. (1789-1899). Histoire de la littérature française, GF Flammarion, 1996

- M. Delon, R. Mauzi et S. Menant, De l'Encyclopédie aux Méditations (Pt. I et II) ; 

- M. Milner et C. Pichois, De Chateaubriand à Baudelaire (Pt. I et II) ; 

- M. Décaudin et D. Leuwers, De Zola à Apollinaire (Pt. I and II).

- X. Darcos, Histoire de la littérature française, Hachette, 2019

- Histoire de la France littéraire, Paris, PUF, 2006 (vol. 3 " Modernités. XIXe-XXe siècles ", the first part)

- D. Bergez, Précis de littérature française, Paris, A. Colin, 2010.

REFERENCE BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM FROM 1789 TO 1899

• Abraham P., Histoire littéraire de la France, Tome III de 1715 à 1789, Tome IV de 1789 à 1848, Tome V de 1948 à 1913, Paris, Messidor Les éditions sociales, 1973. 
• M. Boucharenc, D. Martens & L. van Nuijs (dir.), Croisées de la fiction. Journalisme et littérature, Interférences littéraires, n° 7 - novembre 2011. URL: http://http://www.interferenceslitteraires.be 
• B. Diaz, « Stendhal face à la presse de son temps » in M.-È. Thérenty, A. Vaillant (éds), Presses et plumes. Cit., p. 28-46. 
• L. Gonon, « De l’influence d’un style du fait divers criminel, sur le roman au XIXe siècle », dans Interférences littéraires/Literaire interferenties, nouvelle série, n° 7, p. 63-80. 
• M.-F. Melmoux-Montaubin, L'Ecrivain journaliste au XIXe siècle : un mutant des Lettres, Les Cahiers intempestifs, 2003. 
• G. Pinson, « L’imaginaire médiatique. Réflexions sur les représentations du journalisme au XIXe siècle », COnTEXTES, 11 | 2012, mis en ligne le 16 mai 2012, URL : http://contextes.revues.org/5306. 
• G. Pinson, « L’impossible panorama : l’histoire fragmentée du journal au XIXe siècle », Études françaises, vol. 44, n° 3, 2008, p. 109-119. URL: http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/019535ar. 
• M. Stein, Hugo journaliste. Articles et chroniques, Paris, GF Flammarion, 2014. 
• M.-È. Thérenty, Pour une histoire littéraire de la presse au XIXe siècle, « Revue d'histoire littéraire de la France » 2003/3 Vol. 103, p.625-635. URL: http://www.cairn.info/revue-d-histoire-litteraire-de-la-france-2003-3-page-625.htm. 
• M.-È. Thérenty, A. Vaillant (éds), Presses et plumes. Journalisme et littérature au XIXe siècle, Paris, Nouveau Monde Éd., 2004. 
• M.-È. Thérenty, Balzac journaliste. Articles et chroniques, Paris, GF Flammarion, 2014. 
• M.-È. Thérenty (dir.). George Sand journaliste, Saint-Étienne : Presses universitaires de Saint-Étienne, 2011 Disponible sur Internet : <http://books.openedition.org/puse/1013&gt;
• A. Vaillant, Baudelaire journaliste. Articles et chroniques, Paris, GF Flammarion, 2011. 
• A. Wrona, Zola Journaliste. Articles et chroniques, Paris, GF Flammarion, 2011. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

lessons start on monday, Septembre 29, 2025

Class schedule

FRENCH LITERATURE AND CULTURE II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination by interview in the French language.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination will test the effective acquisition of basic knowledge of nineteenth-century French culture and literature, the development of the periodical press in France, literary movements and authors in relation to their practice of literary journalism.

Analytical skills of literary text will be tested by reading and commenting on a text, with a preparation time (1 hour).

The interview will also focus on the candidates' readings of the full texts and will aim to assess not only whether the student has achieved an adequate level of knowledge, and has acquired the ability to situate the texts in the historical and cultural period in which they were written.

Expository ability and accuracy in the use of language specific to the discipline will also be assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Registration required on aulaweb.

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.