FRE282

Introduction to French Literature: (Prose, Poetry, Drama)

Arts
200 level
2 credit units
111 pages
14 units

This course introduces students to French literature from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It explores the origins and evolution of French literature, covering key literary movements, genres, and influential writers. Students will examine the socio-political and religious contexts that shaped French literary expression and analyze representative works of prose, poetry, and drama. The course aims to enhance students' understanding and appreciation of French literary heritage.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 19.5 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, case study
Practical work: No

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of FRE282, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

FRE282 · UNIT 1 : INTRODUCTION GENERALE SUR LA LITTERATURE FRANCAISE

This is an introductory unit on French Literature. In the unit, you will learn about the beginning of French Literature till the present day. Generally, this unit will acquaint you with names and appellations of centuries and periods that make up the entire Literature.

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What you should be able to do

Define French literature and its historical periods.
Identify major literary movements and their characteristics.
Analyze representative works of prose, poetry, and drama.
Discuss the socio-political and religious contexts of French literature.
Appreciate the contributions of key writers to French literary heritage.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Teacher
Translator
Interpreter
Content Writer
Editor

Where it is applied

Education
Translation Services
Publishing
Journalism
Cultural Organizations

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 2:
Unit 2: Le 16e Siècle : La Première et la Deuxième Périodes
Understanding the nuances of religious and social conflicts requires careful attention to historical context and philosophical underpinnings.
Module 3:
Unit 3: La Progression du Savoir et la Rédaction de L'Encyclopédie
The sheer volume of information and the need to synthesize diverse perspectives make this unit challenging.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 23.5 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 1: Introduction Générale sur la Littérature Française · 1.5 hours
  Read the definition of French Literature.. Identify the historical periods of French Literature.. Understand the influence of 'roman' language on French Literature..
Week 2Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 2: Le Moyen Age : les Quatre Périodes Distinctes · 1.5 hours
  Identify the four major periods of the French Middle Ages.. Examine the general history of the Middle Ages.. Understand the literary activities during each period..
Week 3Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 3: La Première et la Deuxième Périodes du Moyen Age · 1.5 hours
  Study the first two periods of the Middle Ages.. Learn about the dynasties and their impact.. Understand the development of the French language during these periods..
Week 4Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 4: La Chanson de Geste et la Chanson de Roland · 1.5 hours
  Trace the origin of 'Chanson de Geste' and 'Chanson de Roland'.. Analyze the structure and functions of these genres.. Study the themes and their societal impact..
Week 5Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 5: La Troisième et la Quatrième Périodes du Moyen Age · 1.5 hours
  Examine the religious and literary situations of the third and fourth periods.. Understand the major events and their impact.. Analyze the literary activities and their influence..
Week 6Module 2:
- Unit 1: Les Genres Littéraires au Moyen Age · 1.5 hours
  Discuss the three literary genres of the Middle Ages: Poetry, Novel, and Theatre.. Mention writers who contributed to the literary activities.. Analyze the characteristics of each genre..
Week 7Module 2:
- Unit 2: Le 16e Siècle : La Première et la Deuxième Périodes · 1.5 hours
  Access the general history of the 16th century.. Mention religious and social events.. Study the important personalities of the century..
Week 8Module 2:
- Unit 3: La Renaissance et l'Humanisme · 1.5 hours
  Define 'Renaissance' and 'Humanism'.. Explain the origin of the two concepts.. Mention events that took place during the period..
Week 9Module 2:
- Unit 4: Les Genres Littéraires au 16e Siècle · 1.5 hours
  Define novel, poetry, and drama in the context of the 16th century.. Mention literary works produced during the period.. Name novelists, poets, playwrights, and their works..
Week 10Module 2:
- Unit 5: Le 17e Siècle et les Genres Littéraires · 1.5 hours
  Identify the literary genres of the 17th century.. Talk about the literary genres.. Mention various works belonging to authors of the three genres..
Week 11Module 3:
- Unit 1: Le Classicisme · 1.5 hours
  Talk about the origin of Classicism.. Explain 'imitation des Anciens'.. List writers of the literary movement and their works..
Week 12Module 3:
- Unit 2: Le 18e Siècle : L'âge des Lumières · 1.5 hours
  State the period covered by the 18th century.. Define 'âge des lumières'.. Talk about the literary situation of the century..
- Unit 3: La Progression du Savoir et la Rédaction de L'Encyclopédie · 1.5 hours
  Trace the origin of French Encyclopedia.. Define the French Encyclopedia.. Mention important figures in the making of Encyclopedia.. Talk about the themes developed by French Encyclopedia..
Week 13Module 3:
- Unit 4: Les Courants Littéraires au 19e Siècle · 2 hours
  Trace the origin of Romantism, Realism, and Symbolism.. Mention events that led to the creation of each movement.. Mention some of the writers and their works..
- Unit 5: Le 20e Siècle et la Littérature Contemporaine · 2 hours
  Mention the three different periods of the 20th century.. Explain what happened during the periods.. Talk about the literary situation of the century.. Appreciate the works of critiques through their ideologies..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create a timeline of French literary periods and movements, noting key authors and works for each.
Develop concept maps linking literary movements to their philosophical and historical contexts.
Focus on understanding the characteristics and key figures of each literary movement (e.g., Romanticism, Realism, Symbolism).
Practice analyzing excerpts from representative works, identifying themes, styles, and literary techniques.
Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs), paying attention to feedback.
Prioritize studying the periods and authors most heavily emphasized in the course materials and lectures.
Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination.
Form study groups to discuss challenging concepts and share insights.
Utilize online resources and library materials to supplement course content and deepen understanding.
Practice writing concise and well-organized essays on key literary topics.

Questions students ask about this course

What is FRE282 about?

How many units does FRE282 have?

FRE282, Introduction to French Literature: (Prose, Poetry, Drama), has 14 units across 3 modules, over 111 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is FRE282?

FRE282 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Arts.

Is FRE282 hard?

FRE282 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does FRE282 take to study?

About 19.5 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.

How is FRE282 assessed?

FRE282 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with FRE282?

Teacher, Translator, Interpreter, Content Writer and Editor.