[
Wesleyan Home Page
] [
WesMaps Home Page
] [
WesMaps Archive
]
[
Course Search
] [
Course Search by CID
]
Academic Year 2001/2002
Writing the Mother in 20th century French Autobiography
FREN 254 SP
In autobiographical and semi-autobiographical works we shall read by Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, Albert Cohen, Driss Chraibi, Annie Ernaux, and Natalie Sarruate, the mother plays a central role. Some of the
questions we shall consider: What are
the different possible mother/child relationships? How have mothers contributed to the writer's vocation? What are the different ways of rendering this deeply rooted bond (or, in some cases, bondage) in writing? While
avoiding overgeneralizations, we
will keep in mind the variety of cultures represented by these works (aristocratic, bourgeois, and working class French, pied-noir, Jewish Tunisian, Moroccan, first-generation Russian immigrant,...). At the end of the
semester, we will examine several sho
rt theoretical texts in light of the works we have read. However, the primary focus of the course will be on autobiographical (and autofictional) narratives themselves, and what they have to tell us about this central
human relationship, with particular
interest in its relationship to the act of writing.
MAJOR READINGS
Simone de Beauvoir, UNE MORT TRES DOUCE
Albert Camus, LE PREMIER HOMME
Driss Chraibi, LA CIVILISATION, MA MERE
Albert Cohen, LE LIVRE DE MA MERE
Annie Ernaux, UNE FEMME
Nathalie Sarruate,
ENFANCE
SHORTER READINGS
Marcel Proust DU
COTE DE CHEZ SWANN
Marguerite Yourcenar, "La lait de la mort" (nouvelle)
Additional texts by Julia Kristeva and Melanie Klein
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Quality articipation in discussions will be expected.
Students will keep a reading journal (in French) throughout the semester.
There will be several short essays and a longer final paper to write.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
This course is taught in French. All readings, written assignments, and class discussions will be in French. Students should have completed FREN223, FREN224 or another upper-level course before enrolling in this one.
COURSE FORMAT:
Lecture/Discussion
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level:
UGRD
Credit:
1
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN
Grading Mode:
Graded
Prerequisites:
NONE
SECTION 01
- Instructor(s): Anderson,Connie
- Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK314
- Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 19)
- SR. major: 10 Jr. major: 6
- SR. non-major: 2 Jr. non-major: 1 SO: FR:
Special Attributes:
- Curricular Renewal: Writing
Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-19-2002
Contact
wesmaps@wesleyan.edu
to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459