Critical Analysis of Texts: Poetry in French

LROM1160  2016-2017  Louvain-la-Neuve

Critical Analysis of Texts: Poetry in French
6.0 credits
30.0 h + 22.5 h
2q

Teacher(s)
Zanone Damien ;
Language
Français
Online resources

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Prerequisites

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Main themes

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.

Aims

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 and versification), 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 contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Evaluation methods

For the June examinations, assessment is as follows:'
1) Continuous assessment (10 points) : 2 analytical readings of poems from the compulsory list. The first reading is assessed for 1 point ; the third reading is assessed for 7 points. 2 portfolios, the exercises completed in the practical sessions is assessed for 2x1 point.'
2) Assessment in the June examinations (10 points) : 2h written examination.'
- a theoretical issue relating to an aspect covered in the lectures (5 points)
- a question about one of the authors of the compulsory reading list  (5 points).'
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For the September examinations, assessment is as follows : 2h + 4h30 written examination.'
-    an analytical reading of a poem from the compulsory list (7 points).
-    a theoretical issue relating to an aspect covered in the lectures (5 points)
-    a question about one of the authors of the compulsory reading list  (5 points).'
-    in addition, there are 3 points for continuous assessment during the semester: the first analytical reading (1 point) and the two portfolios (2x1 point).

Teaching methods

The formal lectures, given by Professor Damien Zanone, are linked to the practical exercise sessions organised by Mrs Estelle Mathey, his assistant.  There are 13 lectures, 10 practical sessions and 3 optional tutorial sessions. Please note : attendance at the practical sessions is compulsory. Students will be penalised in their continuous assessment for any unexcused absence and/or failure to submit work for the practical sessions

Content

Lectures : see Topics Covered'
Practical exercises :'
- Methodology of  textual analysis

- Session 1 : Literary texts'Session

- 2 : Literary analysis

- Session 3 : Analytical reading ' synthesis stage

- Session 4 : Analytical reading ' planning stage

- Session 5 : Analytical reading 'introduction stage
- Development of textual analysis

- Session 6 : Analytical reading 'Development and Conclusion stage'- Development of textual analysis

- Session 7 : Joint compilation of an analytical reading

- Session 8 : Joint compilation of an analytical reading

- Session 9 : Joint compilation of an analytical reading

- Session 10 : Presentation of an analytical reading by students

Bibliography

Compulsory reading list
(NB : these collections of poetry, with the exception of the one by Francis Ponge, are available on the Wikisource website  (http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Wikisource:Accueil).
' La Fontaine, Jean de : Fables, Livres I à III, éd. J.-Ch. Darmon, Le Livre de Poche, 2002 [1668].
' Baudelaire, Charles : Les Fleurs du mal, éd. J. E. Jackson, Le Livre de Poche, 1999 [1857].
' Apollinaire, Guillaume : Alcools, Paris, Poésie/Gallimard [1913].
' Ponge, Francis : Le Parti pris des choses, Paris, Poésie/Gallimard [1942].
+ a collection chosen in the list proposed by the teachers, communicated on the site Moodle of the course.

Critical tools
' compulsory : le Dictionnaire de poétique de Michèle Aquien (Paris, Le Livre de Poche, 1993).
' recommended : La Poésie. Textes choisis et présentés par Hugues Marchal (Paris, GF-Corpus, 2007) ; le Dictionnaire de la mythologie grecque et romaine de Pierre Grimal (Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 1999, 14e édition) ; le Dictionnaire des symboles. Mythes, rêves, coutumes, gestes, formes, figures, couleurs, nombres de Jean Chevalier et Alain Gheerbrant (Paris, Robert Laffont, 1997, édition revue et augmentée).

Other information

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Faculty or entity<


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Program title
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Minor in French Studies
6
-

Bachelor in Modern Languages and Letters : General
6
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Bachelor in Ancient and Modern Languages and Letters
6
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Bachelor in French and Romance Languages and Letters : General
6
-