UCL - Critical analysis of Medieval Texts : Ancient French

[ROM1230]

[30h] 3 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Mattia Cavagna

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

To initiate ROM 11 students to Old French (9th - 13th century) based on literary period pieces; in so doing, to expose them to a few types of literary production characteristic of the Classic French Middle Ages.

Main themes

Lecture courses. Introduction to the main characteristics of Old French (9th - 13th century), the research tools proper to the study of this period, and the production and transmission conditions of the texts. Reading and commentary of texts representing different genres, taking into consideration grammatical and lexical difficulties without losing sight of the literary dimension of these witnesses to the past state of the language, and initiating students, as far as possible, to the philological procedures necessary to the adequate understanding and interpretation of texts. Students are progressively encouraged to prepare the texts to be covered, and by the end of the year, they should be able to analyse and explain a given text on their own.

Content and teaching methods

Initiation to Old French (9th - 13th century) by reading texts belonging to different literary genres (novel, epic, lyric, short narratives). The course aims to acquaint students with the main linguistic, stylistic, and literary aspects of works from the early Middle Ages.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Assessment:
Oral exam on the texts covered in class. Students must be able to translate into modern French and place the texts in their literary contexts. A good performative reading of the text would be highly appreciated.

Course Materials:
An anthology of medieval French literature, an Old French grammar, and a history of medieval French literature. Supplementary documents containing text, images and sound-recordings (PDF, JPEG et Mp3) will be made available on iCampus in the course of the semester.