UCL - Critical analysis of Medieval Texts : Middle French

[ROM1330]

[30h] 3 credits

This course is taught in the 1st 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 12 students to Middle French (13th - 15th century) by developing knowledge acquired in ROM 1230: following the first two years of study, students should be familiar with the two successive linguistic states of French during the Middle Ages. To present more specific types of Middle French literary productions, drawing special attention to writing techniques.

Main themes

Lecture course. Introduction to the main characteristics of Middle French (13th - 15th century) as compared to Old French, followed by a brief historical survey of the progress in the linguistic states of the language. Reading and commentary of texts representing the different genres, taking into account grammatical and lexical difficulties and focussing more particularly than in ROM 1230 on stylistic facts and the problems linked to the conception and writing of literary works. This slightly different approach is intended to broaden the horizon of problems faced with by students in the study of Medieval texts, and it responds to the emergence, more pronounced than in Old French, of relatively well defined author personalities. Students are encouraged to review texts on their own throughout the year and to enrich the explanations provided with questions. By the end of year, they should be able to prepare the commentary of a given text on their own.

Content and teaching methods

Coming after "Medieval French Authors I" (ROM 1230), this course is devoted to literature in Middle French (14th - 15th century) approached through readings of representative texts from the period. Beyond linguistic and literary explanations, emphasis is placed on problems of style, literary themes and techniques. At the end of the course, students should be able to translate, with a dictionary or a glossary, a short passage in middle French which has not been translated or explained during in-class exercises.

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

Prerequisite:
Students must possess the basics of Old French grammar.

Assessment:
The oral exam evaluates students' linguistic and literary skills in dealing with predetermined authors and texts. Students will also be asked to translate a passage that has not been seen in class.

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.