FRN2470

Telling tales: an introduction to French narrative fiction

P Anderson

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students completing this subject should have acquired an understanding of the development of forms of narrative fiction in French from the simple oral tale to sophisticated forms of modern fiction, relating narrative forms to social contexts. They should have developed a critical understanding of various narrative discourses and situations and be able to describe features of story and the interaction of teller and audience.

Synopsis This subject will involve students in examining a range of narrative texts in French from historical and structural perspectives. Students will analyse and develop descriptions of various features of stories or narrative discourses and the processes of story-telling or narrative situations and relationships.

Assessment Class presentation (1000 words): 20%
* Two essays (2500 words): 40% each

Prescribed texts

Balzac H Le Colonel Chabert GF-Flammarion
Duras M L'amant Minuit
Flaubert G Trois contes GF-Flammarion
Proust M Combray Harrap
Robbe-Grillet A Djinn Minuit

Recommended texts

Bourneuf R and Ouellet R L'univers du roman Presses Universitaires de France
Rimmon-Kenan S Narrative fiction: Contemporary poetics Methuen