Critical analysis of Texts : the French Language Novel

Teacher(s)

Engel Vincent; Lisse Michel (compensates Engel Vincent);

Language

French

Prerequisites

Excellent knowledge of French language

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

Detailed analysis of one or more novelistic 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 novelistic gender ; to estimate the value and limits of the various methods and theoretical orientations in use.
Focalisation on the novelistic gender is not exclusive : in relation with the particular questions treated, works from other genders, or other arts, could also be taken in consideration.
Students will work together in small groups which will allow other texts to be examined, facilitate learning and help students to have a practical involvement in their studies.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	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.

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”.

Content

The work of Albert Camus is the main source material for this course. After a general introduction to his career as a writer and philosopher, and a brief analysis of le Mythe de Sisyphe, l'Envers et l'Endroit and l'Homme Révolté, an extremely detailed analysis of  L'Etranger will not only enable a link to be made between the thought and aesthetics of a writer and a particular work, but also a great number of different analysis techniques to be applied to this especially rich text.

Teaching methods

Formal lectures and working groups. Attendance in working groups is compulsory. Absence without a valid excuse will have an impact in the final examination.

Evaluation methods

Students will individually analyse a text which has not been previously studied in either lectures or working groups. Their critical analysis will use methods seen in lectures and working groups.

Other information

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Online resources

 

Bibliography

Lecture obligatoire : Marcel Proust, Du côté de chez Swann, À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleur, Le temps retrouvé, de préférence dans la collection « Folio ».

Faculty or entity

ROM