223
Introduction to French Literature in Context
Fall 2011
STV 216
2:00-3:15
Reid
Office: Stevenson 204
438-7894
jhreid@ilstu.edu
Office Hours: M/W 11-1, by appt., or just knock
http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/

Grammatical Correction Abbreviations 
Common French Grammatical Errors
Les articles:  du, de la, des vs. le, la, les
Le passé composé vs.l'imparfait

     French 223 is a survey of representative French novels, short stories, poems, and plays from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will study these literary texts in relation to contemporary literary, social, political, and economic trends and historical changes in these trends.

All page numbers in parentheses refer to Bishop
a=left column; b=right column
[] All history readings are in brackets and are optional.

SCHEDULE:

Aug. 23 Introduction to the course and to the French Nineteenth Century. 

PRE-ROMANTICISM
Aug. 25 Le Romantisme: "The Early Nineteenth Century" (6-7); Chateaubriand: René 16-21 (first column); Traits du Romantisme, du Réalisme, et du Symbolisme, GLC René I

Aug. 30 René 21 (second column)-28  GLC René II

September 1 René 29-33; GLC René III

ROMANTICISM
Sept. 6 Lamartine (45-56): "Le Lac" (49-51); Vigny : "Moïse" (56-59), Hugo "Saison des semailles: le soir" (text, copy); GLC Lamartine, etc.

REALISM
Sept. 8 Balzac: "La femme abandonnée" (156-168a top); GLC Balzac I' Constructing Reality:  Realist Techniques


Sept. 13 Balzac: "La femme abandonnée" (168-176b); GLC Balzac II

Sept. 15 Balzac: La femme abandonnée" (176b-185); GLC Balzac III

Sept. 20 Maupassant: L'Inutile Beauté: chapitres I-III (text, copy);  Read textbook 326-27. GLC Inutile I

Sept. 22 Maupassant L'Inutile Beauté; GLC Inutile II (chapitre IV)/La Serre (328-31); Tous les contes et nouvelles de Maupassant

SYMBOLISM
Sept. 27 Baudelaire (276-78): "Correspondances" (280-81), "Hymne à la beauté" (282); GLC Baudelaire I. "The Late Nineteenth Century" (213)

Sept. 29 Baudelaire: "Spleen III" (287); GLC Baudelaire II

  
Oct. 4 Spleen III continued; Verlaine (294-5): "Il pleure dans mon coeur" (297); "Mon rêve familier" (295); GLC Verlaine

Oct. 6 Mallarmé (308-11): "Les Fenêtres," (312-13); "Le vierge, le vivace et le bel aujourd'hui..." (320); GLC Mallarmé

Oct. 11 Review, Révision des traits saillants de mouvements littéraires du dix-neuvième siècle.

Oct. 13 Midterm Exam on 19th C. French literary texts within their literary and socio-historical contexts;

THE SELF-REFLEXIVE NARRATOR
Oct. 18 Introduction to the French twentieth century; Proust: (269-70): Overture to Combray (e-reserve); GLC Proust I

Oct. 20 Proust: (271-79, e-reserve); GLC Proust II

Oct. 25 Proust: (279-85, e-reserve); GLC Proust III; Chartres de loin,

AROUND SURREALISM
Oct. 27 Apollinaire (46): Caligramme et "Le Pont Mirabeau" (47-8); Le Surréalisme; Cocteau  "Pauvre Jean" et Michaux "Dans la nuit" ("Pauvre Jean" et "Dans la nuit"); GLC Apollinaire, Le Surréalisme

AROUND EXISTENTIALISM
Nov. 1 Sartre: (75-83); "The Mid-Twentieth Century" and "Existentialism" (72-3); GLC Sartre I. 

Nov. 3  Sartre "Le Mur" (82-88); GLC Sartre II

THE NEW THEATRE
*Nov. 8 Féminisme, de Beauvoir, Yourcenar (150-63); GLC Féminisme

Nov. 10 Ionesco (446): "Le Nouveau locataire (113-21); Ionesco I

Nov. 15 Ionesco (446): "Le Nouveau locataire" (121-28); Ionesco II

NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE NOVEL
Nov. 17 Duras Moderato cantabile Chps. 1-3. Duras I                      

Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 29  Duras Moderato cantabile Chps. 4-6; GLC Duras II               

Dec. 1 Duras Moderato cantabile Chps. 7-8; GLC Duras III           


Dec. 6 La Négritude (136-37), Césaire (137-3), "Pour Saluer le Tiers Monde" (139-41), "Barbare" (141), Senghor (142-43), "Jardin de France" (143), "Femme noire" (144). GLC Négritude

Dec. 8  Review

December 15:  1:00-3:00 pm. Final Exam on 20th C. French literary texts within their literary and socio-historical contexts with some comparison to 19th C. French literary texts and contexts.

Abdellatif Laâbi (215-18), "La langue de ma mère," "Dans les fruits du corps"; Anne Hébert (202-03), "Le Piano" (203), "La baigneuse" (204); GLC Laâbi/Hébert;

A) Required texts:

Bishop, Maurice. A Survey of French Literature. vols. II & III. 2005.
Duras, Marguerite. Moderato cantabile. Paris: Minuit, 1958.

B) Reserve:

Duras, Marguerite. Moderato cantabile. Paris: Minuit, 1958.
 

C) What must I do in order to succeed in this course?

1) Complete all reading and written preparation before coming to class.

• Read all literary works or passages assigned and only those introductions to the author that are assigned.  I will present social, historical, and political background in class. A tape of each lecture will be available in the Foreign Language computer laboratory soon after each class.

  • First read a poem, chapter, or scene.

  • Then reread it and jot down those lines or passages that correspond to each of the question on the Reading Guide sheet that you will copy from the on-line syllabus.  Read and reread those lines or passages until you are come up with a thoughtful answer to the question. 

  • Be prepared to summarize what takes place in each text when you come to class.

  • Completing daily question sheets (GLC) intelligently will be essential for preparing for the exams.  You are encouraged to make additions and revisions. 

  • At the beginning of class I will verify that you have adequately prepared your GLC.  "Adequate" means that you have given substantive answers to most questions (a few words or a sentence or two is generally not adequate).  In class you can take notes on the GLC and/or on a separate peace of paper.  Notes will be critical to passing the final exam.  Preparation before and in class will constitute a major part of your class participation grade.

2) In class, take notes on the discussion of the literary and socio-historical context and on the reading of the text. These notes will be necessary to prepare your your mid-term exam and your final exam.

3) Participate actively in class discussions. It is essential that you take a chance and say what you feel the text is saying, even if it may be wrong. I am most concerned with evidence of your progress in understanding how specific texts relate to their literary and historical contexts.

• Class Participation: Your daily class participation grade will be based on class preparation (completing the GLC before class), taking notes in class, and contribution to class discussion.

4) If you are absent, you are responsible for all class discussion. You will receive a 0 for class participation on days that you are absent, unless you provide me with a formal doctor's excuse or a printed obituary notice.

5) Prepare for a mid-term exam on the reading of nineteenth century texts and a final exam concentrating on the reading of twentieth century texts, but including some questions that require you to compare works from the two centuries. The exams will consist of essay questions testing your ability to use your knowledge of the literary historical context (movements) and the social context in order to read the texts themselves. This will mean being able to distinguish between when the text illustrates its literary and social context and when it differs from this context. Your class notes, written class preparation sheets, and written essay assignments will be essential for preparing the two exams.

6) Knock on my door at any time or write me on e-mail if you have any questions during the course. If, when you knock on my door, I am busy, we will set up a time when I can see you.  Monday afternoons, Wednesday afternoons, and Fridays I will often work in the Normal Coffee House.  You are welcome to talk to me there any time.

E) Your grade will be computed as follows:

1. Class Participation and Written Preparation (38%)
2. Midterm exam (30%)
3. Final exam (30%)
4. Film Series (2%)

At the end of the semester, I reserve the right to raise a student's grade if I judge that his or her performance in class participation or in writing papers has been truly exceptional overall or has shown exceptional progress.

Illinois State University Plagiarism Policy

Regardless of whether or not the student admits to cheating, faculty are obligated to notify SDRS of any incident in which academic dishonesty is alleged.  It is very important to ensure that the University as a whole is represented in such cases, and to make sure a student isn’t making the same “innocent mistake” in several classes at once.

When an incident of academic dishonesty is referred to this office, we will evaluate it to see what steps may be appropriate, depending upon the circumstances, the response of the student, and the wishes of the faculty member.  In all cases, SDRS staff will meet with the student and discuss University action, in addition to whatever grade penalty is assessed by the faculty member.

Faculty should not assess a grade penalty if the student denies having cheated.  In such cases, the incident should immediately be referred to SDRS for adjudication.  If necessary, the student should be given an “incomplete” grade for the course pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.

In cases where a student admits to cheating, an administrative decision may be appropriate.  A minimum of one year of disciplinary probation is the standard precedent for such violations, in addition to appropriate educational sanctions.  This may be modified depending upon circumstances, including but not limited to the severity of the incident and the student’s previous disciplinary history.

If a student denies the allegations, or if the student already has a significant disciplinary record, the case will be referred to the University Hearing Panel (UHP).  The UHP is made up of faculty, students, and staff who have been trained by SDRS to hear evidence and make decisions regarding violations of the Student Code of Conduct.