Undergraduate Course: Seventeenth Century French Theatre (ELCF10007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The literature of the seventeenth century reflects some important religious and political trends. After a brief exposition of theatre under the reign of Louis XIII, this course will look at the impact of absolute monarchy and Jansenism on the literature in the second half of the century. |
| Course description |
This course will trace the representation of the human condition from the triumph of the hero (Corneille) to ¿la démolition du héros¿ (Racine) following the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of the bourgeoisie under Louis XIV (Molière). Through close analysis of a selection of texts, the course aims to encourage students to engage knowledgeably and critically with texts and ideas relating to literature, philosophy and the history of ideas. Topics to be studied include the following: social context, linguistic and cultural signifiers, It will also examine notions of genre, Baroque, neo-classicism and metatheatre.
Classes will focus on individual texts but include comparative elements.
Students will be expected to do independent research on various topics, which will then be presented in class, and to lead discussions.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 18 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% Coursework:
1 x 2000 word essay (70%)
1 x in-class presentation (30%) |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To demonstrate an advanced knowledge of a range of drama texts from the seventeenth century in their socio-historical and cultural contexts as well as a good understanding of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks needed to analyse them
- To select and apply relevant theoretical and methodological approaches in their critical evaluation of dramatic texts and to demonstrate mastery of relevant technical terminology and research methods
- To assess and synthesise primary and secondary sources and to engage critically with these sources, showing awareness of nuance and accommodating ambiguities
- To construct coherent arguments which engage effectively with the sources and the relevant contexts and to present them with a high level of clarity in both oral and written form
- To demonstrate autonomy and initiative in their activities, carry out independent research under the guidance of the tutor, and to show awareness of their own and others¿ roles and responsibilities as part of a team
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Reading List
Corneille, L'Illusion Comique, Le Cid
Molière, Le Misanthrope, Le Tartuffe
Racine, Andromaque, Athalie
Rotrou, Le Véritable Saint Genest (HATIER EDITION)
Aristotle, On the Art of Poetry*
Descartes, Le Discours de la Méthode
Pascal, Les Lettres provinciales
La Bruyère, Les Caractères
La Rochefoucauld, Maximes
Adam A., Histoire de la litterature française au 17ème siècle, tome 4
Adam A., le Théâtre français classique
Bénichou P., Morales du Grand Siècle*
Bray R., La formation de la doctrine classique en France
Cognet L., Le Jansénisme
Cruickshank J., French Literature and its Background, 2- The Seventeenth Century.
Fischer-Lichte E., History of European Drama and Theatre (Chapters 2 and 3)
Forestier G., Passions Tragiques et Règles Classiques*
Goldmann L., Le Dieu caché*
Gossip C. J., An Introduction to Classical French Tragedy
Hammond N., Creative Tensions: an Introduction to Seventeenth-Century French Literature*
Jacquot J., Ed, Dramaturgie et société : rapports entre l'ouvre théâtrale, son interprétation et son public aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles
Lough J., Introduction to Seventeenth-Century France
Lough J., Seventeenth-Century French Drama
Méthivier h., Le Siècle de Louis XIV
Phillips H., The Theatre and its Critics in Seventeenth-Century France*
--------- , Church and Culture in Seventeenth-Century France
Turnell M., The classical Moment: studies of Corneille, Molière and Racine
Tournand J.-C., Introduction à la vie littéraire du XVIIème siècle
Ubersfeld A., Lire le théâtre*
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
By the end of the course, students will have further developed their skills in the areas of research and enquiry, personal and intellectual autonomy, communication, and personal effectiveness. For further specification of these skills see the university¿s graduate and employability skills framework at http://www.employability.ed.ac.uk/documents/GAFramework+Interpretation.pdf |
| Keywords | DELC 17th C Fr |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Veronique Desnain
Tel: (0131 6)50 3054
Email: Veronique.Desnain@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Lina Gordyshevskaya
Tel:
Email: pgordysh@ed.ac.uk |
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