Ateneo - UPO

History of French Literature: from 17th-19th centuries novel

The course is structured according to the following axes of study and reflection:
1) Historical and historiographical framework of the novel;
2) History of French novel from the origins to 19th century;
3) Focus on 17th-19th century novel
4) Framing of the works.

Reading of three novels choosing from a list that will be provided during the course.

For a general overview:
- M. Raimond, Le roman, Paris, Armand Colin, 2015.
- Storia europea della letteratura francese, voll. I e II, a cura di L. Sozzi, Torino, Einaudi, 2013.

The course aims to enable students at least to be able to place an author and his text in the historical and literary context of the novel and to be able to critically analyse a text and identify its main themes. A more advanced objective is to be able to identify common elements and differences between authors, texts and literary paths.
In particular, the student will be required:
1) Knowledge of the Historical and historiographical framework of the novel
2) Knowledge of the main historical and literary events of 17th-19th centuries.
3) Reflections on 17th-19th centuries novel.
4) Analysis and translation of texts.

- Basic knowledge of the French language.
- Basic knowledge of the most relevant problems and issues within the literary genre of the novel.

1) Frontal lessons.
2) Continuous interaction.
3) Reading, contextualisation and analysis of texts.

Gender issues will receive special attention whenever possible.

Other information will be provided during the course.

In addition to continuous interaction, through the direct participation of students, the examination will consist of:
1) in a question on the history of the French novel, from its origins to the nineteenth century. The student will have to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental problems and issues of the literary genre of the novel and be able to identify how the novel has evolved over the centuries.
2) in a question on the main authors of 17th-19th centuries. The student must be familiar with the themes and literary debates that developed in France between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and must be able to elaborate a discourse on the main authors analysed during the course.
3) a few questions on the texts to be analysed, in order to demonstrate their effective reading and comprehension. The student must demonstrate the ability to place the chosen texts in their historical/literary context and to identify the particular themes of the authors.

In order to obtain a pass, the student must demonstrate a solid knowledge of the history of the French novel from its origins to the nineteenth century. They will have to know the authors and the fundamental themes of the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century novel and will have to demonstrate that they have read the texts and understood their specific characteristics in relation to the century to which they belong.
In order to achieve excellence, students must be able to make their own comparisons between the authors studied and develop a coherent critical discourse that takes into account the historical/literary evolution of the novel. They will also have to demonstrate that they have read the texts in depth and are able to make connections between the authors and between the novels, highlighting common elements and differences.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SDA) and Special Educational Needs (SHD) will be provided with dedicated tools and services.

The analysis of the texts will start from an overview of the literary genre of the novel from the origins to the 19th century. It will then highlight the structure and the narrative modes; finally, it will illustrate the main themes of these texts. Particular attention will be paid to the historical and social context.
The programme is structured in the following way:
1) fist/second weeks: historical background of novel from the origins to 19th century.
2) third/fourth weeks: framing of 17th-19th centuries novel
3) fifth-eighth weeks: reading of the texts and textual analysis of the novels.

To achieve the basic skills, the following are required:
1) Knowledge:
- General knowledge of the history of French literature.
- Knowledge of the problems and fundamental issues of the literary genre of the novel.
- Specific knowledge of the French novel, in particular of 17th-19th centuries.

2) Competences:
- Knowing how to frame the themes, authors and theoretical debates on the French novel from its origins to the nineteenth century.
- Ability to synthesise (framing of texts, identification of specific themes, comparisons between the texts analysed during the course).

3) Transversal skills:
- To be able to present the arguments with clarity .
- To be able to present the authors and place them in their historical/literary context.
- Being able to read and analyse the texts, grasping the most important themes and core arguments.

For the achievement of a more advanced level, the student must demonstrate to:
- Be able to make connections between authors within the same historical/literary context.
- To be able to elaborate autonomously a thematic path that can be developed in chronological order.
- To be able to read the texts in a critical perspective, developing comparisons and being able to identify points of contact and difference between the various authors.