Course Description
Significant developments in the language, literature, and civilization of France from the eleventh through the fifteenth centuries. Discussions will consider writers and genres, linguistic theory, popular culture, and the arts with special attention to historical, social, and political context. Given in French.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
The course requirements for all students, undergraduate and
graduate, are: class participation, two in-class examinations, a
final examination, and a final research paper. Graduate students
will be evaluated and graded according to higher standards. In
addition, graduate students will be responsible for leading class
discussion on selected days and presenting a formal oral
presentation. They will also read more primary and secondary
materials, which will be incorporated into the final examination
and the final paper. Requirements for the final research paper
will be different for undergraduate and graduate students.
Undergraduates will be expected to write an 8-10 page paper,
while graduate students will be required to complete a 12-17 page
research project.
Athena Title
Studies Medieval Lit Culture
Prerequisite
(FREN 3030 or FREN 3030H or FREN 3030E) and permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the language, literature, and civilization of Medieval France by examining representative early French texts in their various social, political, and artistic contexts. Students will demonstrate their ability to read and analyze the required texts by taking written examinations on the material. They will further demonstrate their ability to relate required readings to additional primary and/or secondary texts through formal oral presentations. Finally, they will demonstrate their ability to conduct research in early French literature and culture by exploring individual topics in a final paper. Undergraduates will investigate specific aspects of the required texts in conjunction with secondary sources from literary criticism or historical essays. Graduate students will conduct more extensive research and produce a scholarly paper that could be presented at a professional conference.
Topical Outline
The focus of this course will vary. A course focusing on gender and genre, for example, will explore the traditional and non-traditional roles men and women played in early French literature and society. Topics for discussion come from a variety of sources, including literature,history, linguistics, popular culture, and the arts: A. Traditional and non-traditional roles in epic and romance. B. Portrayal of gender in popular literature (Comedy, Farce, Fabliau, and Conte) C. Language and gender (maternal and paternal languages; linguistic ambivalence in Old and Middle French;) D. Social norms and deviance (Role reversal and gender disguise; Marriage and rape in romance texts) E. Gender and literary genres (narrative strategies of Marie de France's Lais; the defense of women in Christine de Pizan's dits) F. Men and women in Medieval society (in art,music, education, law, medicine)