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Academic Year 2004/2005


Special Delivery: The French Epistolary Novel
FREN 273 SP

Crosslistings:
COL 301

Before the 18th century, the first-person narrative was generally perceived as self-indulgent, not to mention distasteful. Eighteenth-century readers, however, became fascinated with the looking glass of the first person, with the intimacy, immediacy, and confesional aspect of the "je" narrator. It comes as no surprise, then, that the 18th-century was the golden age of the ROMAN EPISTOLAIRE, the novel composed entirely of letters. In this class we will read epistolary novels that vary widely in both form and content: from Madame de Graffigny's critique of European society (Lettres d'une peruvienne), to Mme de Charriere's praise of female independence (Lettres de Mistriss Henley), to Lacios' portrait of aristocratic libertinage (Les liaisons dangereuses). We will also read two examples of the epistolary novel's stylistic counterpart, the roman-memoire.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RLAN    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: FREN215 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005


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