everything.study
21G.312

Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture

3-0-9 units. HASS-H · Undergraduate

Introduction to literary and cultural analysis through the close reading and discussion of texts united by a common theme. Taught in French.

Spring 2011

Childhood is a source of fascination in most Western cultures. It is both a major inspiration for artistic creation and a political ideal, which aims at protecting future generations. Which role does it play in French society and in other francophone areas? Why is the French national anthem ("La Marseillaise") addressed to its "children"? This course will study the transformation of childhood since the 18th century and the development of sentimentality within the family. We will examine various representations of childhood in literature (e.g. Pagnol, Proust, Sarraute, Laye, Morgièvre), movies (e.g. Truffaut), and songs (e.g. Brel, Barbara). Course taught in French.

Readings

  • Ariès, Philippe. L’enfant et la vie familiale sous l’Ancien Régime . Seuil, 1975, pp. 44-51. ISBN: 9782020042352.
    Listed reading
  • Ernaux, Annie. La place (Folio Series, No 1722) (French Edition) . Gallimard, 1986, pp. 64-7 and 92-5. ISBN: 9782070377220.
    Listed reading
  • Hugo, Victor. “Lorsque l’enfant paraît .” In Les feuilles d’automne . Ulan Press, 2011. ( PDF ) ↗
    Listed reading
  • Dolto, Françoise. La cause des enfants (French Edition) . R. Laffont, 1985, pp. 474-7. ISBN: 9782221042854.
    Listed reading
  • Desplechin, Marie. Le Sac à dos d’Alphonse . L’école des loisirs, 1997, pp. 17-9, and 80-105. ISBN: 9782211044295.
    Listed reading
  • Weyergans, François. La vie d’un bébé: Roman (French Edition) . Gallimard, 1986, pp. 210-6. ISBN: 9782070704781.
    Listed reading
  • Iacub, Marcela. Penser les droits de la naissance . Presses Universitaires de France, 2002, pp. XV-XIX. ISBN: 9782130516484.
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 4 · TOPICS: Quitter l’enfance I · READING ASSIGNMENTS: Hubert, Jean-Loup. Le grand chemin . Film, 1987.
    Reading assignment
  • Radiguet, Raymond. Le diable au corps . Grasset, 1923, pp. 42-4.
    Listed reading
  • Duras, Marguerite. La pluie d’été . P. O. L., 1990, pp. 98-109. ISBN: 9782867441776.
    Listed reading
  • France, Anatole. Chapter 1 in Le livre de mon ami . Nabu Press, 2010. ISBN: 9781145870765. Listen online . ↗
    Listed reading
  • Pagnol, Marcel. La gloire de mon père (French Edition) . European Masterpieces, 2007, pp. 46-7. ISBN: 9781589770461.
    Listed reading
  • Vallès, Jules. Chapter XI in Jacques Vingtras - L’enfant (French Edition) .
    Listed reading
  • Rachid O. L’enfant ébloui . Gallimard, 1999, pp. 84-5. ISBN: 9782070410989.
    Listed reading
  • Sartre, Jean-Paul. L’enfance d’un chef (Broché) . Gallimard, 2003, pp. 7-11, 74-7, and 102-5. ISBN: 9782070304066.
    Listed reading
  • Guibert, Hervé. Mes Parents . Gallimard, 1986, pp. 32-5, 120-1, and 148-9. ISBN: 9782070706570.
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 10 · TOPICS: Souffrir d’enfance I · READING ASSIGNMENTS: Truffaut, François. Les quatre cent coups . Film, 1959.
    Reading assignment
  • Morgiève, Richard. Legarcon: Roman (French Edition) . Calmann-Lévy, 1997, pp. 26-7. ISBN: 9782702127490.
    Listed reading
  • Rousseau, Jean-Jaques. Émile ou l’éducation, Tome Troisieme . Jean Neaulme, 1762. ( PDF ) ↗
    Listed reading
  • Schérer, René. Vers une enfance majeure: Textes sur l’éducation . Preface by Charles Fourier. La Fabrique éditions, 2006. ISBN: 9782913372498.
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 14 · TOPICS: L’éducation II · READING ASSIGNMENTS: Philibert, Nicolas. Être et avoir . Film, 2002.
    Reading assignment
  • Sarraute, Nathalie. Enfance . Gallimard, 1983, pp. 218-9, and 272-7. ISBN: 9782070376841.
    Listed reading
  • Brel, Jaques. “ Mon enfance .” Song, 1966. ↗
    Listed reading
  • Barbara. “ Mon enfance .” Song, 1987. ↗
    Listed reading
  • Camus, Albert. La peste . Gallimard, 1947, pp. 192-7.
    Listed reading
  • Forest, Phillippe. L’enfant éternal: Roman (L’infini) . Gallimard, 1997. ISBN: 9782070747962.
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 18 · TOPICS: L’enfant dans la guerre · READING ASSIGNMENTS: Lorenzi, Jean-Louis. La colline aux mille enfants . Film, 1994.
    Reading assignment
  • Cocteau, Jean. Les parents terribles . Gallimard, 1938, pp. 42-9. ISBN: 9782070215775.
    Listed reading
  • Gary, Romain. La vie devant soi (Folio) . Gallimard, 1982, pp. 244-8. ISBN: 9782070373628.
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 21 · TOPICS: Les rêves d’enfant · READING ASSIGNMENTS: Jeunet, Jean-Pierre. La cité des enfants perdus . Film, 1995.
    Reading assignment
  • SES #: 23 · TOPICS: Bilan du semestre · READING ASSIGNMENTS: None
    Reading assignment

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: 21G.304 or permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H Can be repeated for credit.

Sources