FREN 358 is designed for students who have a reasonably good mastery of French grammar and French written expression, and who wish to study French literature in a cultural context. In FRENCH 358, you will acquire a basic knowledge of French texts that are important in French literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century.
Outline
Module 1 : Introduction
Leçon 1 : Qu’est-ce que la littérature ?
Leçon 2 : Les genres littéraires
Leçon 3 : La versification française
Module 2 : Le moyen âge
Leçon 4 : Le moyen âge – généralités
Leçon 5 : Marie de France
Leçon 6 : François Villon
Module 3 : La Renaissance
Leçon 7 : La Renaissance
Leçon 8 : Rabelais et « L’abbaye de Thélème »
Leçon 9 : Joachim du Bellay
Leçon 10 : Pierre de Ronsard
Module 4 : Le 17e siècle – le Grand Siècle
Leçon 11 : Le 17e siècle – généralités
Leçon 12 : Jean de La Fontaine – fabuliste
Leçon 13 : Molière – biographie et les premiers actes de L’Avare
Leçon 14 : L’Avare – actes III, IV, et V
Leçon 15 : L’Avare – discussion
Module 5 : Le 18e siècle – le Siècle des Lumières
Leçon 16 : Le Siècle des Lumières (1715–1789)
Leçon 17 : Voltaire et « Histoire d’un bon bramin »
Learning outcomes
Explain what is meant by the wordlittérature.
Distinguish among the various genres:le roman,le conte/la nouvelle,le théâtre, andla poésie.
Scan lines of poetry in French and identify stylistic devices such asla métaphore,la comparaison,l’enjambement,l’anaphore, etc.
Discuss elements ofl’amour courtois(courtly love) inLe lai du laustic.
Discuss elements ofla poésie lyriquein two ballads by François Villon.
Describe the Renaissance world view in the writings of Rabelais, Du Bellay, and Ronsard.
Analyze a few fables by La Fontaine and a play by Molière.
Discuss elements of satire in aconteby Voltaire.
Evaluation
To receive credit for this course, you must achieve a minimum of 50 percent on the written examination and a minimum composite grade average of D (50 percent) for the course. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Devoir No. 1
10%
Devoir No. 2
10%
Devoir No. 3
15%
Devoir No. 4
15%
Online Final Written Exam
50%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Hirsch, Bette G., and Chantal P. Thompson. Moments Littéraires: An Anthology for Intermediate French. 2nd ed., Heinle, Cengage Learning, 2006. (Online)
Molière. L’Avare. Beauchemin, 2000. (Print)
All other course materials, including a Course Information and a Study Guide, are available online through the course home page.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.