Critical Analysis of Texts: Poetry in French [ LROM1160 ]

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How is poetry different from other forms of literary expression such as novels, plays or essays? This question, which will bring students into contact with the main critiques of poetry, is the main theme in the study of poetic texts in French from the XVIth century to the present day. The course thus provides students with the necessary components to construct a critical interpretation of a poetic text, making use of formal aspects (study of verse and fixed forms, awareness of figures of style), thematic aspects (highlighting the most common issues in poetry) and historical aspects (development of poetic expression through literary history).

Practical classes (Exercises) are linked to this course to provide further practice.

By the end of this course, students will have acquired knowledge of poetic literature and expertise in how literary texts can be analysed. They will gain knowledge of a wide range of poetic work and the ability to use the language of literary analysis (particularly figures of style), together with an awareness of the place of poetry in literature.  They will acquire expertise in how to analyse a poetic text in a logical, relevant and innovative way, to produce a critical interpretation.  The combination of this knowledge and expertise will enable students  to independently undertake a literary analysis built on the relationship between internal examination of texts and awareness of their context (collection, aesthetic trends, artistic, historical and cultural context).

The evaluation will proceed that way :

- one MCQ in order to control the reading of the studied works (4 points). It will be done in two parts : the first one during a session of lecture in december (2 points), the second one during the test of march (2 points). For the session of september, the MCQ will be given in one time (4 points).
- a theoretical question dealing with an aspect of the lectures (6 points).
- a commentary of a poem excerpt from one of the studied works (8 points).
- the progress between two assignments made during the year (2 points).

Attention : to participate in all the sessions of « exercices » is an obligation. An absence without any justification may prevent, if jury decides it, the registration in the session of June and postpone it in the session of September.

Schedule of th evaluation :
- 5 sessions of « Exercices » between october and december.
- décembre : 1st half of the MCQ ; 1er test of commentary, to be done at home et given back during the last week of the first semester.
- 5 sessions of « Exercices » between february and may.
- At the end of march, in the conditions of the exam : 2e test of commentary + 2nd half of the MCQ.
- exam of june (4h) : the theoretical question, the commentary.
(exam of september, 4h30 : the all MCQ entier, the theoretical question, the commentary).

The lectures will be held in conjunction with sessions of « exercises » conducted by Estelle Mathey, an assistant of Professor Zanone. There are 14 sessions of the lectures and 10 of « exercices » for each student.

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).

The main works studied will be the following :
- Labé, Louise : Poésies, éd. F. Charpentier, Poésie/Gallimard, 1983 [1555].
- Du Bellay, Joachim : Les Regrets, éd. F. Roudaut, Le Livre de Poche, 2002 [1558].
- La Fontaine, Jean de : Fables, Livres I, II, III, IV et V, éd. J.-Ch. Darmon, Le Livre de Poche, 2002 [1668].
- Hugo, Victor : Les Contemplations, L. Charles-Wurtz, Le Livre de Poche, 2002 [1856].
- Baudelaire, Charles : Les Fleurs du mal, éd. J. E. Jackson, Le Livre de Poche, 1999 [1857].
- Verlaine, Paul : Fêtes galantes, Romances sans paroles, éd. J. Borel, Poésie/Gallimard, 1973 [1869 et 1874].
- Rimbaud, Arthur : Poésies, dans Poésies. Une saison en enfer. Illuminations, éd. L. Forestier, Poésie/Gallimard, 1973 [1891 et 1895].
- Apollinaire, Guillaume : Alcools, Paris, Poésie/Gallimard [1913].
- Ponge, Francis : Le Parti-pris des choses, Paris, Poésie/Gallimard [1942].
- Roubaud, Jacques : Quelque chose noir, Paris, Poésie/Gallimard [1986].

We'll also use Dictionnaire de poétique by Michèle Aquien (Paris, Le Livre de Poche, 1993) and recommend La Poésie. Textes choisis et présentés par Hugues Marchal (Paris, GF-Corpus, 2007) and La Poésie. Introduction à l'analyse des textes poétiques by Alain Vaillant (Paris, Armand Colin, « 128 », 2008).

Erasmus students who would come to the UCL for only one semester can chose this course for the first semestre only (an inscription for the second semester only is not possible). In that case, the evaluation will be decided by the professor and his assistant.