Module Information

Module Identifier
FR23320
Module Title
L'Art Du Récit (19e - 20e Siècles)
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Dr Gabor Gelleri
Semester
Semester 1
Mutually Exclusive
FR33320
Pre-Requisite
Eligibility for entry to level 2 French
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Tutorial 6 x 1 Hour Tutorials
Lecture 4 x 1 Hour Lectures
Seminar 10 x 1 Hour Seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Two essays of 1500 words. Only the better of the two marks will be taken for the continuous assessment element. This is to allow some assessment to be formative as well as (or instead of) summative. If a student fails to submit one piece of the two required, and does not supply the tutor concerned with valid reasons/evidence in writing, the mark for the one piece of work submitted will be carried forward as a continuous assessment mark, but divided by two. If no assessed work is submitted, the mark for the continuous assessment element (which will be fed into the overall module assessment) will be zero.  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   written examination (2 questions, equally weighted)  50%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmit all failed or missed elements  50%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Resit the exam if failed or missed  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a better grasp of French and its registers
2. Develop and demonstrate analytical skills in relation to French literary texts, and in general.
3. Understand short texts of secondary literature within the field.
4. Historically contextualize the studied texts.
5. Express themselves clearly both in speaking and in writing.
6. Demonstrate a cultural awareness of the relevance of narratives in contemporary French culture.
7. Be able to develop a structured plan and argument.

Aims

The aim of this module is to focus on the development of narrative in French literature, from the 19th to the 20th century, from Maupassant to the Nouveau Roman. We are focusing on shorter forms of narrative and how these purport to give an account of the society in which they were produced.
The second key ambition of the module is to provide an in-depth introduction into techniques and methods of formal literary analysis. Throughout the semester, students are gradually trained to work with literary texts, from the spotting of elements worthy of analysis, through regrouping them into question, to the structuring and phrasing of the analysis.

Brief description

This module, taught in French, will introduce students to different forms of narratives, how they (re)define, manipulate and create reality and realism. Through the combined study of short novels and short stories, students will explore and develop their understanding of realist writing, its varied facets (fantastic and realism; parody; didactism; the place of women, etc.) and its functions. The module will provide a wide set of critical tools to understand these forms of narratives.

Content

1. Methods of literary analysis (1 seminar and 1 tutorial)
2. Maupassant – Introduction (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
3. Maupassant’s fantastic (1 seminar, 1 tutorial)
4. Maupassant’s realism 1 (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
5. Maupassant’s realism 2 (1 seminar, 1 tutorial)
6. Methods of the ‘commentaire composé’ (1 seminar, 1 tutorial)
7. Mauriac: introduction; flashback (1 lecture, 1 tutorial)
8. Mauriac: the non-place and the movement (1 seminar, 1 tutorial)
9. Duras: introduction; interaction strategies (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
10. Duras: stylistic renewal; Conclusions (1 seminar, 1 tutorial)

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Very limited (calculation of occurrences of expressions of a word in a text possible).
Communication Development of clear and accurate expression, assessed for writing.
Improving own Learning and Performance The quality of independent thinking will be assessed in the essay assignment.
Information Technology Students have to find on-line and printed secondary literature.
Personal Development and Career planning Ability to work independently, identifying research questions. Awareness of the changing nature of various text forms. Capacity to structure in coherent form, and present in clear style
Problem solving Students have to find relevant secondary literature for the essay assignment.
Research skills Yes – students have to do independent research in preparation for their essays.
Subject Specific Skills Yes – students learn to follow specific techniques of literary analysis, and apply these to texts studied in class and of their own choice.
Team work no

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5