Learning objectives
The Course aims at the transmission of the main lines of evolution of the epistolary novel between the XVIIIth and the XIXth centuries, focalising its structural characteristics, particularly referring to the love theme.
Prerequisites
French, level B1
Course unit content
The Course, entirely taught in French, aims at giving the main competences concerning the structures and characteristics of the epistolary novel between the XVIIIth and the XIXth centuries, above all in reference to the theme of love and to the narratological structures that distinguish it.
Full programme
The Programme of the Course concerns the presentation of the chronological evolution of the French epistolary genre, from the end of the XVIth century to the end of the XVIIth century.
This historical panorama aims at focalizing the main characteristics of the epistolary genre, above all referring to the theme of love and to the narratological structures that distinguish it.
For each novel in programme, will be analyzed and commented passages that are particularly meaningful from the perspective of study that has been choosen.
Bibliography
- GUILLERAGUES, Lettres portuguaises, Paris, GF Flammarion, 2009 (o altra versione integrale in lingua originale);
- MONTESQUIEU, Lettres persanes, Paris, Flammarion, 2019 (o altra versione integrale in lingua originale);
- LACLOS, Les Liaisons dangereuses, Paris, Folio Gallimard, 1973 (o altra versione integrale in lingua originale);
To these novels, it will be addedone work between the following ones:
- JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU, Julie ou La Nouvelle Héloise, Paris, Flammarion, 2018 (o altra versione integrale in lingua originale);
- BALZAC, Mémoires de deux jeunes mariées, Paris, Folio Classiques, 1988 (o altra versione integrale in lingua originale).
On the foundations of the epistolary novel, it will be necessary to study one of the following volumes, that are included in the Examination:
- LAURENT VERSINI, Le roman épistolaire, Paris, PUF, 1998.
- LAETITIA HARCOUR, Entre vice et vertu: la femme du XVIIIème siècle. Analyse comparative des figures féminines dans "La Nouvelle Héloise" et "Les Liaisons dangereuses", Heidelberg, Grin Publishing, 2009;
- DELIA GAMBELLI ET ALII, "Il romanzo epistolare in Francia nel Settecento", Biblink, 2008.
Teaching methods
The Course will be taught entirely in French, through physical lessons and on-line didactics, conforming to the University deliberations consequent to the pandemic.
Some aspects or themes of the Course will be deepened by students, under the Teacher's supervision.
Assessment methods and criteria
The students' competences will be verified through an oral examination in French, taking 30 minutes. The student will demonstrate to be able to:
- illustrate the main contents of the works examined, particularly in relation to the theme of love and to the structures of the epistolary novel (themes, motives, rhetorical figures, images and symbols, meanings of the study of the spacial and temporal of texts);
- to explain the authors' biography and works.
Students that will attend the Examination WITHOUT THE TEXTS ANALYSED AND REQUIRED, WILL NOT BE EXAMNINATED.
A sufficient note (between 18/30 and 23/30) will be attributed to students having demonstrated to be able to read in a correct French, translate in a correct Italian, and analyse any passage chosen by the Teacher among the novels presented in the Course in a French, correct from the point of view of phonetics, syntax and lexicon.
A note between 24/30 and 27/30 will be given to students who will demonstrate to have a good knowledge of the different contents of the Course (reading, translating and analyzing any text chosen by the Professor), expressed in a fluent and correct French, as well in a personal and critical way, although not completely satisfactory.
Students who will demonstrate to possess a complete knowledge of every contents of the Course, expressed in a personal and critical way and without any error from the phonetic, syntactic, lexical and the expressive point of view, will obtain a note between 28/30 and 30/30.
Other information
More information about the texts and/or bibliographic documents to be consulted will be given during the Course.
