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Academic Year 2002/2003

Writing the Mother in 20th-century French Autobiography
FREN 254 SP
Crosslistings:
WMST 266

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 short 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 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003

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