MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FRENCH LITERATURE

The class of "Littérature française" is one of the main classes of French of the Master Degree Course in European, American and post-colonial languages and literatures. It allows students to acquire an advanced knowledge of the history of French literature as well as mastery of theoretical-critical methodologies.

Teaching objectives:
Through a course structured in graduated training stages, students will be able to deal with complex literary and critical texts in French (to read, analyze, interpret and place them in their respective historical-cultural contexts) and to master the techniques related to literary studies and textual analysis (philology, history of genres, poetry, rhetoric, hermeneutics, stylistics, reception, theoretical-literary terminology

1. Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge of the historical and cultural context covered by the program ; knowledge of the history of classical and modern French poetics; knowledge of applied criticism.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Ability to read, understand, analyze, interpret and situate in their respective historical-cultural contexts ancient and modern critical texts.
3. Ability to make judgments
Ability to evaluate different approaches, methods and interpretations of the texts under consideration; ability to exercise critical spirit and analytical skills; ability to navigate among different critical perspectives.
4. Communication skills
Ability to expound problems and analyses concerning the subject program with logical and chronological rigor, and to express concepts with clarity and terminological precision.
5. Learning skills
Ability to synthesize, connect, order, convey ideas, forms and data.

Knowledge of the general frameworks of the history of modern French literature acquired through the basic literary teachings of the three-year degree course in Languages, civilizations and language sciences.
Since the course is given in French, a mastery of the French language (written and oral) is required at level C1 of the CEFR, also in view of the examination.

The test includes two complementary phases:
1. A paper (written in French) is to be handed in at least seven days before the oral test (50% of the assessment).
It should be around 15 pages, and will carry on a topic of your choice related to the course subject, to be agreed mainly with the lecturer. Setting, bibliographical tools, writing methods and typographical standards will be communicated during class.
2. An oral test in French on the subjects discussed during the course (50% of the grade).