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French 110 Beginning French I
A course stressing the spoken language, basic structural patterns, reading
for comprehension, and introduction to French culture. Three class meetings;
one oral practice session per week.
French 120 Beginning French II
A course stressing the spoken language, basic structural patterns, reading
for comprehension, and introduction to French culture. Three class meetings;
one oral practice session per week.
French 215 Intermediate French
A review of basic structural patterns to improve reading, writing, and speaking
skills in French. One oral practice session per week. Prerequisite: French
120 or appropriate score on placement test.
FS FRE 201 Speaking of France Today
An introduction to contemporary French culture and conversation. Topics relating
to French institutions and cultural identity are analyzed and discussed.
Intensive conversation practice to improve fluency and build vocabulary.
Recommended for students planning to study in France. One additional oral
practice session per week and attendance at French Table. Prerequisite:
French 215.
French 225 Exploring Genre: Poems, Prose, Plays
An introduction to French literature designed to serve as a transition from
language courses to more advanced courses. Study of texts from each genre
presents students with a vocabulary and method with which to analyze texts.
Particular attention is given to close readings and the explication de text.
Prerequisite: French 215 or permission of instructor.
French 305 Phonetics and Oral Expression
A study of the phonetic structures of the French language with intensive
exercises to improve pronunciation and aural comprehension. A major portion
of the course is dedicated to preparing a public performance in French
of a play, scenes from plays, poems, or songs. One additional oral practice
session per week or permission of instructor.
French 315 Grammar and Composition
A grammatical and structural study of the French language in both its written
and spoken forms. A useful course for students who will be needing the language
as a tool. Prerequisite: French 225.
French 330 “The Empire Writes Back”
An introduction to the literature written in French that comes from France's
former colonies and its social-historical context. Topics include: the
era of African Independence, le négritude, the Algerian War for
Independence, immigration to France and Beur literature. Emphasis is placed
on the subversive nature of the literature studied and on how it inflects
the French language, the French canon, and “Frenchness” itself.
Prerequisite: French 225 or permission of instructor.
French 335 War and Love: The Origins of French Literature
A survey of literature of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including an examination
of historical context and of the evolution of genres such as the epic,
courtly romance, the farce, lyric poetry, humor and satire. Selected texts
deal with themes related to love and conflict from the Crusades to the
wars of religion in the sixteenth century. Prerequisite: French 225.
French 355 From Ancien Régime to
Revolution
An introduction to French literary and artistic masterpieces of the 17th
and 18th centuries. Representative texts including classical theater as
well as works of the moralistes and the philosophes are examined within
their historical context. Emphasis is placed on the representations of
royal power, social convention, and challenges to state authority. Prerequisite:
French 225 or permission of instructor.
French 365 Romanticism, Realism, and Modernism
An examination of the upheavals and reversals of 19th and 20th centuries in
France through an analysis of literary movements such as romanticism, realism,
existentialism, and the Theater of the Absurd. The course focuses on cultural
issues including the relationship of the individual to society, social and
political revolution, and the role of the artist. Prerequisite: French 225
or permission of the instructor.
French 375 Translating Language and Culture
Translating and translation theory addressing the complications, both linguistic
and cultural, that arise in the translation process. Through study of several
translated versions of the same text, students examine different theoretical
approaches. Prequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor.
French 405 Fitting Fiction to the Screen
A study of selected French and Francophone novels from across the centuries
and their film adaptations, with specific reference to differences between
the two art forms. Class discussions focus on methods of literary and cinematic
analysis. Topics include: reading films and reading novels, styles, and
genres. Students are required to attend several film screenings outside
of class. No previous knowledge of film theory is required. Prerequisite:
French 330 or above, or permission of instructor.
French 415 Women in the World of Letters
An historical examination of the role of women in French literature. The
course focuses both on portrayals of women in literature and on texts written
by women. Specific topics and texts may vary and are selected from a variety
of time periods and genres. The course also includes an introduction to
feminist theory. Prerequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor.
French 425 The Politics of Literature
An examination of sinificant literary texts written at important historical
moments in the evolution of French society. Emphasis is placed on the role
of literature in the development of intellectual history. Close reading and
analysis focus on ways in which literature both reflects and influences political
ideas. Prerequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor.
French 435 Comedy and Tragedy
An historical study of dramatic literature from its origins in the Middle
Ages to the present day. The course explores recurring themes such as power,
love, and deception using plays from a variety of playwrights, movements,
and styles. The study of specific literary movements illustrates the evolution
of practice and theory in French drama. Prerequisite: French 330 or above,
or permission of instructor.
French 580 Junior/Senior Seminar
Seminar, including oral reports, discussions, and an independent research
paper. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
French 600 Senior Project I
Preparation of a Senior Project proposal. A thesis statement, a short description
of the project, and a bibliography have to be developed. Taken on a Credit/No
Credit basis only. Credit: Two semester hours.
French 610 Senior Project II
Completion and oral defense of the Senior Project.
Prerequisite: French 600.