Module Information

Module Identifier
FR26020
Module Title
HUMOUR IN FRENCH LITERATURE
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Benjamin Andreo
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
eligibility for entry to Level 2 French

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Semester Assessment  Continuous assessment 2 x 1,500-2,000-word essay  40%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Semester Exam  2 hour examination (2 essay questions, equally weighted)  60%
Supplementary Assessment 2 Hours   Supplementary Exam  2 hour examination (2 x essay questions, equally weighted) if continuous assessment submitted  100%
Supplementary Assessment 3 Hours   Supplementary Exam  3 hour examination (3 x essay questions, equally weighted) if no continuous assessment submitted  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a better grasp of French language and registers.
2. Develop and demonstrate analytical skills in French literary texts.
3. Develop a non-stereotypical knowledge of various comic writings and genres seminal to French culture, and an understanding of different forms of humour.
4. Historically contextualise the studied texts and their use of humour.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of how humour is constructed in literary, political and aesthetic terms.
6. Relate and articulate 'écriture comique' to other genres, and also to other 'national' humours.
7. Demonstrate a cultural awareness of its relevance to contemporary French issues.

Aims

The aim of this additional option module is to focus on the comic writings and the concept of humour and its uses in French literature, from 16thc. to 20thc., and to prepare students both culturally and linguistically for their year-abroad, but it also aims to increase their analytical reading skills.

Brief description

This module, taught in French, will introduce students to different forms of comic writings and how they introduce, redefine, manipulate and create humour. Through the combined study of novels, plays and shorts stories students will explore and develop their understanding of comic writing and humour, its varied facets (satire, parody, humour noir etc.) and its functions. The module will provide them with the critical tools to understand these forms of humour and to elaborate on the concept of 'comic writing' as a whole.

Content

Week 1: Introduction (Les ecritures comiques)
Rabelais (Introduction generale)
Week 2: Rabelais (comique verbal et comique populaire)
Week 3: Rabelais (comique et pathetique)
Week 4: Beaumarchais (Introduction generale : le langage dramatique)
Beaumarchais (personnages comiques)
Week 5: Beaumarchais (comique et serieux)
Beaumarchais (galanterie et comique)
Week 6: Beaumarchais (Le monologue de Figaro)
Week 7: Laforgue (introduction generale: parodie)
Laforgue (Hamlet)
Week 8: Laforgue (Hamlet / Pan et Syrinx)
Week 9: Vian (Introduction generale)
Vian (Satire et invention verbale)
Week 10: Vian (humour, tragique et humour noir)

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Possibly, evaluation of statistical data in the secondary reading.
Communication Oral communication developed in seminars; written communication developed in assessments and exam.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will be able to assess their own progress week by week through their increased understanding of the issues raised and the skills developed.
Information Technology Use of on-line journals and source collections; delivery of course materials and information via email and e-learning system.
Personal Development and Career planning Acquisition of transferable skills; in-depth acquaintance with literary/cultural studies as an academic subject.
Problem solving Selection of appropriate reading material; development of evaluative analysis and critical skills and formulation of detailed arguments; answering questions posed by written assessment; seminar work.
Research skills Preparation of written assessment; preparation for seminars; detailed analysis of literary texts and contexts.
Subject Specific Skills Acquisition of French linguistic skills and detailed analysis of literary texts and wider cultural contexts.
Team work Debates and group presentations in seminars.

Reading List

Should Be Purchased
Beaumarchais (1993) Le Mariage de Figaro, in Le Barbier de Séville, Le Mariage de Figaro, La Mère coupable Paris : GF Flammarion Primo search Laforgue, Jules (1977) Les Moralités Légendaires Paris : Gallimard 'Folio' Primo search Rabelais, François (1997) Gargantua, édition bilingue Paris : Seuil 'Points' Primo search Vian, Boris (2007) L'Ecume des jours Paris : Le Livre de Poche Primo search Reference Text
Barthes, Roland, (1973) Le Plaisir du texte Paris : Seuil Primo search Bergson, Henri (2004) Le Rire, essai sur la signification du comique Paris : PUF Primo search Evrard, Franck (1996) L'Humour Paris : Hachette Primo search Raskin, Victor (1985) Semantic Mechanism of humour Dordrecht : D. Reidel, Coll. Synthese language library Primo search Sareil, Jean (1984) L'Ecriture Comique Paris : PUF Primo search Sauvy, Alfred (1988) Aux Sources de l'humour Paris : Odile Jacob Primo search Smadja, Eric (1993) Le Rire Paris : PUF, Coll. Que-Sais-Je ? no 2766 Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5