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Academic Year 2005/2006
Special Delivery: The French Epistolary Novel
FREN 273 FA
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 confessional 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 Laclos' portrait of aristocratic libertinage (Les liaisons dangereuses). We will also read two examples of the epistolary novel's stylistic counterpart, the roman-memoire.
MAJOR READINGS
Guilleragues, LETTRES PORTUGAISES
Montesquieu, LETTRES PERSANES
Madame de Graffigny, LETTRES D'UNE PERUVIENNE
Mme de Charriere, LETTRES DE MISTRISS HENLEY
Laclos, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES
Diderot, LA
RELIGIEUSE
Prevost, MANON LESCAUT
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Three papers, one term paper, oral presentations.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
While any student who has completed FREN 215 (with a minimum grade of B) or has placed out of FREN 215 through the placement test may sign up for this course, it is an introductory course intended for students who have
just completed FREN 215 or not
taken more than one course in French beyond 215 and not yet studied abroad in a French-speaking country.
Readings, written assignments and class discussions will be in French. Only COL students may take this
course for credit. All others must take
it for a letter grade.
COURSE FORMAT:
Lecture/Discussion
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level:
UGRD
Credit:
1
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN
Grading Mode:
Student Option
Prerequisites:
NONE
SECTION 01
- Instructor(s): Curran,Andrew
- Times: .M...F. 11:00AM-12:20PM; Location: RLAN106;
- Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 18)
- SR. major: 0 Jr. major: 4
- SR. non-major: 0 Jr. non-major: 4 SO: 9 FR: 1
Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-30-2006
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459