OBJECTIVES

This class will be a critical reading of novels written in French by women from the 17 th century to the present. Our study of 20 th -century authors will include writers from francophone countries other than France .
How do women view their time and culture? What strategies do they apply to forge their own image and represent themselves? What can we say of the relation between the authors and their female characters? The approach of the course will be thematic and the works will be read in a chronological order. Both novels and critical articles read for this class will lead us to discuss themes that include time, memory, sexuality, maternity, education and personal development, women's issues, women and work, race, immigration and emigration, genre and style in women's writing (autobiography, prose genres, écriture feminine, imagery etc).

REQUIREMENTS

In addition to coming prepared to class, students will need to fulfill the following requirements:

Blackboard Discussion Board Postings (20%)

Post by 10 p.m. the evening before the reading is discussed in class. Late postings will not be counted

For each primary text, you will post on Blackboard 2-3 paragraphs in response to the entry posted by the moderator of the week (students will take turn moderating the Blackboard discussion each week, see sign-up sheet, first class). This post should focus on the particular questions we have been discussing in class or about themes or style of reading assigned for the week. Though you can certainly express an opinion in your post, posts that simply say whether you ‘liked' a text or not will not get credit. Posts will be graded as follows. Each post will be given a 1 (inadequate), 2 (acceptable, good basic post), or 3 (excellent):

30-33 points = A

26-29 points = B

22-25 points = C

18-21 points = D

20 points or fewer = NC

 

Oral presentation on novel (15%): For each of the novels we read, a student will be responsible for one day's discussion. The student will prepare a variety of different kinds of information that will deepen and expand our reading of the text. In preparing your presentation, remember to stay focused on the questions that are central to our concerns in this class. The student in charge should prepare:

 

Oral presentation on article (15%): For each novel we read, a student will be responsible to summarize the points made by a critical article read by the class. The student in charge should be ready to facilitate a discussion relating the article to specific passages of the novel.

 

Eight-ten (8-10) page paper on a text read in course (30%)

You will write one longer paper on a text of your choice read in class. For your analysis of the novel, you will need to identify 3 adequate secondary sources (in addition to sources provided in class). You could also compare the treatment of a particular theme in two novels read in class. Your paper should be followed by a bibliography. A first draft of the paper is due . I will give you comments on the paper and you will also get comments from one other student in the class. You will revise the draft on basis of these comments. Final drafts are due .

 

Class participation and attendance (20%)

This is a discussion class. Your regular attendance and participation are expected. Only by being in class and taking part in the conversation will you explore your own ideas fully and get the benefit of hearing the thoughts of others. If for any reason you are unable to be in class, please let me know in advance of the class you will miss.

 

 

Course outline:

 

Week of September 5

Introduction

 

Week of September 12

•  Introduction to 17 th century: Préciosité and Salon writing

•  “The Other Voice,” in The Story of Sappho , p. 1-11 and discussion of The Story of Sappho

 

Week of September 19

•  The Story of Sappho

•  The Story of Sappho

 

Week of September 26

•  “Changing the Subject: Authorship, Writing and the Reader” Nancy K. Miller and discussion of The Princess of Clèves

•  The Princess of Clèves

 

Week of October 3

•  The Princess of Clèves

•  Introduction to 18 th Century: Women in Public and Domestic Spheres

 

Week of October 10

•  Beauty and the Beast and article

•  Ourika

 

Week of October 17

•  Ourika and “Seduced Heroines: The Tradition of Protest”

•  French Women and Revolution

 

Week of October 24

•  Introduction to 19 th century: Idealism and Realism

•  Indiana

 

Week of October 31

•  Indiana and “Idealism in the Novel: Recanonizing Sand”

•  Indiana

 

Week of November 7

•  London Journal

•  Introduction to 20 th Century:From the Belle Epoque to Existentialism

 

Week of November 14

•  Paris from my Window

•  The Second Sex

 

Week of November 21

1) The Second Sex and article

 

Week of November 28

•  Introduction to Post-Colonial writers

•  The Forbidden Woman

 

Week of December 5

•  The Forbidden Womn

•  Slander

 

Week of December 12

1) Slander

Conclusion