French (FREN) 420

Overview

FRENCH 420 is designed for students who intend to major in French or to graduate in Education with French as a teaching subject. This course is also vital to those who intend to pursue translation as a profession and those aspiring towards a higher degree (MA) in French Studies. It serves as an introduction to 19th-Century French poetry and theatre, through the study of (1) a substantial selection of the work of some traditionally well-known male poets, (2) the work of the hitherto little-known women poets, (3) a play chosen from the Romantic period On ne badine pas avec l’amour, which remains popular in contemporary France to this day, and (d) Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal. Baudelairewill be given prominence as a central figure in the evolution of 19th-Century French literary aesthetics, and as a precursor of French symbolist literature. What is particularly innovative about this course is the inclusion of women poets (most of whom have so far been excluded from courses in 19th- Century French literature). These women poets were not only contemporaries to, but indeed close literary associates of, some of the literary giants of 19th-Century France. The one play included in the course suffices to demonstrate the close relationship between poetry and drama in the Romantic period. FREN 358 is the normal pre-requisite for FREN 420.

Outline

FRENCH 420 is comprised of 17 lessons which are divided into 4 Modules, namely:

• Module 1: Introduction au Romantisme (leçons 1-5)
• Module 2 : Les femmes poètes (leçons 6-9)
• Module 3 : Le Théâtre romantique (leçons 10-13)
• Module 4 : Charles Baudelaire (leçons 14-17)
• Appendice

Evaluation

To receive credit for FREN 420, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least a D (50 percent). You must achieve a minimum grade of 50 percent the Final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.