FREN 341 - La France de l’Ancien Régime

FDR: HL
Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Fall 2013

Prerequisites: FREN 273. Readings in French literature and civilization from before the Revolution of 1789. May be repeated for degree credit if the topic is different.

Fall 2013 Topic:

FREN 341: La France de l’Ancien Régime: Vaux et Versailles (3). Prerequisite: FREN 273 or instructor consent. Two castles, two men, two concepts of state, of power, and of taste. This multidisciplinary course presents an overview of the “Grand siècle,” the period generally viewed as the apex of France’s political and artistic domination of Europe, through the feud that opposed the King (Louis XIV) and his finance minister (Fouquet). Students explore the plastic arts, music, literature, history, religion, economy and politics of the times to retrace the birth of the modern French nation. Readings include works by Pascal, Corneille, Molière, La Fontaine, Mme. de Lafayette, Mme. de Sévigné, and their contemporaries, as well as documents of the period and modern commentary. Students improve their communication skills through oral presentations and written reports in French. (HL) Frégnac-Clave.