Ateneo - UPO

An introduction to the French tragedy of the 16th century: the rewriting of the classic myth

The course is structured according to the following axes of study and reflection. First part:
1) Historical and historiographical framework.
2) History of French Literature of the 16th century, with a focus on the main theoretical and aesthetic debates;
3) The birth and evolution of French theatre, with particular attention to the tragedy in the first and second half of the 16th century;
4) Study of the authors whose works will be analyzed in the course;
5) Framing of the works.
6) Critical and comparative elaboration of the contents.
In the second part of the course (seminar) students will be an active part in textual analysis. Within the course there will also be a seminar workshop on the moyen français and the manuscripts of the sixteenth century.

For the first part of the course
- Ch. Mazouer, Le théâtre français de la Renaissance, deuxième édition, Paris, Champion, 2013.

The bibliographic indications and the texts related to the second part of the course will be provided during the lessons.

The course aims to enable students at least to know some aspects of French literature related to the birth and evolution of the French theatre of 16th century. A more advanced objective is to be able to identify common elements and differences between authors, texts and thematic paths.

The main objectives concern
1) Knowledge of the history of literature of the 16th, according to the main events;
2) Knowledge of the French authors who in the Renaissance reworked the classical theatre and gave rise to the modern French tragedy.
3) Reading, framing, critical elaboration from the texts.

- Good/excellent knowledge of French language. The course will be held in French.
- Knowledge of the most relevant problems and issues in French culture and literature.

- Continuous interaction during the lessons.
- Reading, contextualization and analysis of texts;
- Methodological application in a critical and historiographic perspective.
- A part of the course will take place in seminar mode.

Gender issues will receive special attention whenever possible.

The students will be continuously encouraged to reflect, under the guidance of the teacher, on aesthetic and textual issues, also with independent analysis exercises.

In addition to continuous interaction through direct student participation, the examination will consist of:
1) in a question on the main themes of French literature of the 16th century. The student will have to demonstrate that he/she is familiar with the fundamental problems and issues of literature and can identify how it has evolved over the centuries.
2) in a question on the main authors examined during the course. The student will have to know the themes and the cultural and literary paths that have developed in France concerning the literary reworkings of classical theatre and the birth of modern French tragedy and will have to be able to elaborate a discourse on the main authors analyzed during the course, setting them in the literary and historiographical context of reference.
3) Evaluation of the seminar work that the student will develop in the second part of the course. It will consist of a guided analysis of some texts, in order to demonstrate their effective reading and comprehension. The student will have to demonstrate the ability to place the chosen texts in their historical/literary context and to identify the peculiar themes of the authors in each text analyzed.

In order to obtain a pass, the student must demonstrate a solid knowledge of French literature concerning the literary reworkings of classical theatre and the birth of modern French tragedy. They will have to know the authors and the fundamental themes, in relation to the literary genre of reference, and will have to demonstrate that they have read the texts and understood their particular characteristics in relation to the century to which they belong.
In order to achieve excellence, students will have to be able to independently elaborate comparisons between the authors studied and to develop a coherent critical discourse that takes into account the evolution of French literature, the literary reworking of classical theatre and the birth of modern French tragedy. They must also demonstrate that they have read the texts in depth and are able to make connections between the authors and between the texts, 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 a framework of the literary genre of reference. It will then highlight the main themes linked to the literary reworking of classical theatre and the birth of modern French tragedy. within the works dealt with. Particular attention will be paid to the historical and literary context.
The program is structured in the following way:
- First and second week: Historical background and contextualization of the major literary movements;
- third week: introduction to the moyen français and the study of the manuscripts of the sixteenth century
- fourth-sixth week: the birth and evolution of the French tragedy of the sixteenth century; detailed presentation of the authors of the course, reading of some texts; detailed and in-depth framing of the works.
- Seventh-eighth week: Seminar in which students will elaborate and present some textual and literary analyses.

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 questions linked to the reworking of the classics and the birth of the modern French tragedy.
- Specific knowledge of some authors of 16th century French tragedies.
2) Competences:
- To know how to frame the most important themes, authors and issues related to French literature in the context of the reworking of the classics and the birth of the modern French tragedy..
- Ability to synthesize (framing of the texts, identification of specific themes, comparisons between the texts analyzed during the course).

3) Transversal skills:
- To be able to explain with clarity of argument the topics dealt with.
- To be able to present the authors and place them in their historical/literary context.
- To be able to read and analyze the texts, grasping the most important themes and argumentative nuclei.
For the achievement of a more advanced level, the student should demonstrate to:
- Be able to make connections between authors and between themes within the same historical/cultural context.
- To be able to elaborate autonomously a thematic path that can be developed in chronological order.
- To be able to understand and re-elaborate the most important themes of French literature in relation French tragedy of the 16th century.
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.