UCL - Critical analysis of Modern and Contemporary Texts : French Language Poetry

[ROM1160]

[30h + 22.5h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 1st & 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Damien Zanone

Language: French

Level: First

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

Aims

To be able to produce a relevant and illuminating analysis, with arguments, of a poetic text ; to situate it on stylistic, aesthetical, historical and cultural levels ; to evaluate the crossing between methodological tools and results ; to write an analysis.

Main themes

Detailed analysis of one or more poetic works, notably by confronting some interpretations elaborated by specialists. This analysis leads to situate the text into the historical, social and cultural configuration in which it has been generated ; to isolate operating tools in order to analyse the poetic gender ; to estimate the value and limits of the various methods and theoretical orientations in use.
Focalisation on the poetical gender is not exclusive : in relation with the particular questions treated, works from other genders, or other arts, could also be taken in consideration.
In this first class initiating to textual explanation, the attention will be focused on interpretative competences. Exercices organised in complement to the class will allow the student to practise these competences by deciphering into all the details short texts with a high significant and aesthetical condensation.

Content and teaching methods

How poetic statements differ from those produced by other forms of literary expression (novel, drama, essay)? This question, which will meet key critical discourse upon poetry, will guide the study of poetry in French from the sixteenth century to our times. The course will provide the elements to enable everyone to propose an analysis of the poetic text insisting on the formal aspects (the study of verse and fixed forms, identifying figures of speech), thematic issues, and historical aspects (the evolution of poetic expression in literary history).

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

The reading of a variety of poetry collections will provide a steady base of examples (especially Ronsard, La Fontaine, Hugo, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Apollinaire, Ponge). The reading of synthetic books could help : La Poésie by Brigitte Bercoff (Hachette supérieur, 1999), Genres et formes de la poésie by Jean-Louis Joubert (Armand Colin, 2003) and La Poésie by Hugues Marchal (GF-Corpus, 2007).
The lectures will be held in conjunction with sessions of "exercises" conducted by an assistant. There will be two assignments for the year course : one at home, another in the conditions of the exam.