This course is conducted entirely in French, with all readings, discussions and writings in French. The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the four main literary genres in French: poetry, short stories, the novel and theatre. In addition, the course prepares students for writing compositions and exams in French, for discussing literature in French, and for learning to write a French explication de texte.

The works we will study include a representative overview of poetry from the 16th to the 20th century, including works by Ronsard, La Fontaine, Vigny, Musset, Hugo, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Valéry and Apollinaire. We will also read short stories by Simone de Beauvoir in La Femme rompue.. We will read the play by Jean-Paul Sartre titled Les Mouches and discuss how the work portrays existentialist philosophy. Finally we will read the very important feminist novel by Annie Ernaux titled La Femme gelée.

Final grades will be based on three exams, two compositions and one explication de texte, as well as class participation. If you have any questions about the course, please contact me by e-mail and I will answer you as quickly as possible. My e-mail address is berkvam@indiana.edu