FREN 397 - Séminaire avancé

FDR: HL
Credits: 3

Prerequisite: Three courses in French at the 200 level. The in-depth study of a topic in French literature and/or civilization. Recent offerings include: La Littérature francophone du Maghreb; La littérature Beure; La France sous l’occupation; Les femmes et l’écriture au XVIIe siècle; Les écrivains du XXe siècle et la diversité culturelle; L’affaire Dreyfus. Students are encouraged to use this course for the development of a personal project. May be repeated for degree credit when the topics are different.

Winter 2022, FREN 397A-01: Séminaire avancé: Heroes, Heroines and Villains in Old French Epic (3). Prerequisites: Three courses at the 200 level. In this course, students will investigate the world of Old French epic, one of the most popular genres of literature in the French Middle Ages. As is the case today with superhero fiction, the epic tales of medieval France were populated with recurring characters with superhuman capabilities, and the narrations became an opportunity to imagine new political realities, explore the consequences of good and bad government, and understand the supernatural and far-away. Originally memorized and sung by professional performers, the epics we will read were eventually written down and have thus survived the centuries because of their immense popularity. Students will encounter the most famous heroes, heroines and villains of Old French epic, as well as a series of other intriguing protagonists, marvelous creatures and objects: queens and princesses of the Far East, dragons, unicorns, flying horses, lions, and magic stones, rings and plants. A part of the course will also be devoted to introducing medieval French language (Old French) and reading small passages in the original. (HL) McCormick.