54
French Literature
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Consistent with the specific training objectives of the courses in which the course is taught, both of which belong to the L-11 class, the present teaching activity aims to enhance and attain knowledge in the linguistic-literary area envisaged by the individual SUAs. At the end of the training course offered, learners are expected to acquire: 1) good knowledge of the theory of literature and narratology; 2) basic knowledge of the history of French literature, with particular reference to the main movements, authors and works of French literature from the 17th to the 20th century; 3) good ability to analyse the main components and structure of a novel; 4) the ability to contextualise an author in the cultural landscape to which he/she belongs, starting from a detailed analysis of the stylistic elements he/she uses 5) the ability to identify some of the most evident and significant interdisciplinary relationships between literature and anthropological, philosophical and artistic disciplines; 6) mastery of the main methodological tools applied by modern criticism to narrative fiction; 7) mastery of the specific metalanguage of literary criticism and textual analysis.
CAPABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING The learner must be able to critically discuss in Italian the contents of the course and orient himself within the framework of both the major historical-literary categories and the theoretical-methodological issues introduced in the course. They must also be able to translate, analyse and critically comment on extracts from the works studied, using the methodological tools provided during the course.
FURTHER EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES Autonomy of judgement: The learner must demonstrate autonomy of judgement and the ability to critically and personally re-elaborate the themes addressed during the course. They must also acquire autonomy in the critical analysis of literary texts, identifying their main historical-social, cultural, philosophical features. Communication skills: The learner must be able to argue orally in a clear and orderly manner and must be able to answer questions posed during the oral examination in a punctual, critical and non-mnemonic manner. Learning ability: The learner must be able to reflect critically on the relationship between text and context and be able to find differences and similarities between different texts belonging to different contexts.
Course Prerequisites
General knowledge of narratology and the history of European literature is required. It is important that students have a good general knowledge, a solid command of the Italian language and good skills in logic and comprehension of written texts of a literary nature.
It is essential that learners have more than sufficient language skills in French; in particular, reading comprehension must be at least at CEFR level A2.
Teaching Methods
The course includes general lessons, in interactive plenary, on the main movements, authors and works of French literature from the 17th to the 20th century and on basic elements of narratology and theory of literature. Lessons of a more laboratory nature are also planned, in which the students, individually or by means of cooperative learning, will be confronted with the linguistic analysis of certain passages of the works studied both in the original language and in translation. The first lessons will be dedicated to methodological reinforcement and in particular to deepening the required prerequisites
Assessment Methods
The final examination consists of an oral test aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the objectives, which will be held in Italian and will be graded on a scale of 30/30. Specifically, the learner will have to demonstrate that he/she has acquired the specific metalanguage of critical and literary analysis, has mastered the main tools of critical analysis, knows the main movements, authors and works of French literature from the 17th to the 20th century and is able to analyse and contextualise both in the author's literary production and in the cultural context to which he/she belongs, the works read and analysed during the course. The history of literature, or part of it, may be tested by means of a structured exemption test (multiple choice or short answer). This test may only be taken by attending students and is absolutely optional. The date (one and the same for the entire academic year) will be agreed upon during the course with those attending, and in any case well in advance. The criteria that will be adopted for the evaluation of the oral examination are as follows: - Completeness of literary-historical knowledge - Completeness of knowledge of the plot, characters and themes of the works mentioned in points 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Bibliography (cf. above) - Textual analysis skills - Mastery of the metalanguage specific to textual analysis
Texts
Bibliography
Texts on the history of literature:
1) Ida Merello, Breve storia della letteratura francese, Turin, Einaudi, 2023
Works to be read and studied in full:
2) Auguste de Forbin, Charles Barimore. Romanzo sentimentale, Naples, Colonnese, 2022
3) G. Flaubert, Madame Bovary, introduction by Lanfranco Binni and translation by Oreste del Buono, Milano Garzanti, 2014
4) A. Gide, L'immoraliste, 1902, any complete French edition
5) A. Camus, L'Étranger, 1942, any complete French edition
Additional teaching materials
It will be the responsibility of the professor to make available, at the beginning of the course, and according to the knowledge and/or needs of the participant(s), further critical bibliographical references for the in-depth study of the knowledge required at the beginning of the course or for the in-depth study of the proposed contents.
Those who will not be attending the course are requested to contact the professor to obtain such additional material to the bibliography, which is an integral part of the examination programme.
Contents
COURSE TITLE:
A brief history of French literature.
CONTENTS:
1. Elements of narratology
2. Elements of the theory of literature
3. Main movements, authors and works of French literature from the 17th to the 20th century
4. Analytical reading and commentary of Charles Barimore by Auguste de Forbin
5. Analytical reading and commentary of Flaubert's Madame Bovary
6. Analytical reading and commentary of Gide's L'immoraliste
7. Analytical reading and commentary of L'Étranger by Camus
Course Language
Italian
More information
Non-attending students may contact the professor, by e-mail or during the weekly reception, for any clarification on the syllabus and how to prepare for the exam.