Literature of another country

Literature of another country

Understanding French Literature

  • Get introduced to the rich and diverse tradition of French literature exploring genres from romanticism to existentialism, and everything in between.

  • Become familiar with well-known French authors such as Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Marcel Proust, Albert Camus, and others. Understand their styles, context and their contribution to French literature.

  • Read and analyse works like ‘Les Misérables’ by Victor Hugo, or ‘L’Étranger’ by Albert Camus to grapple with the themes and narrative styles prevalent in French literature.

French Literary Genres

  • Understand key literary genres in France such as romanticism, realism, naturalism, and existentialism. Each genre has its own characteristics and well-known authors.

  • Explore the symbolic significance of the Académie française (French Academy), the pre-eminent body for the regulation of French literature and language.

French Poetry

  • Gain a good understanding of French poetry and its significance. Poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud have greatly influenced French poetic tradition.

  • Familiarise yourself with the structure and rhythm of famous French poems. For instance, the sonnet-style of Baudelaire’s ‘Fleurs du mal’ (Flowers of Evil) collection.

Literature Vocabulary and Phrases

  • Brush up on key vocabulary related to literature including ‘le roman’ (novel), ‘la poésie’ (poetry), ‘le drame’ (drama), ‘le poète’ (poet), and more.

  • Practise phrases for discussing literature, such as “J’ai lu un livre intéressant,” (‘I read an interesting book’), or “Mon auteur préféré est…” (‘My favourite author is…’).

Analysing French Literature

  • Familiarise the process of analysing a literary piece in French - looking at themes, character analysis, plot development, and literary devices like metaphor or symbolism.

  • Practise writing literary analysis in French. For instance, a review of a book or a detailed analysis of a poem. Remember, it’s key not just to summarise but to interpret and critique.

Grasping these elements will provide a good understanding of French literature - a crucial cultural and intellectual element of France.