21G.312 | Spring 2011 | Undergraduate

Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture

Course Description

Childhood is a source of fascination in most Western cultures. It is both a major inspiration for artistic creation and a political ideal, which aims at protecting future generations. Which role does it play in French society and in other francophone areas? Why is the French national anthem ("La Marseillaise") …
Childhood is a source of fascination in most Western cultures. It is both a major inspiration for artistic creation and a political ideal, which aims at protecting future generations. Which role does it play in French society and in other francophone areas? Why is the French national anthem (“La Marseillaise”) addressed to its “children”? This course will study the transformation of childhood since the 18th century and the development of sentimentality within the family. We will examine various representations of childhood in literature (e.g. Pagnol, Proust, Sarraute, Laye, Morgièvre), movies (e.g. Truffaut), and songs (e.g. Brel, Barbara). Course taught in French.
Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments
Photo of children in Luxembourg playing with toy sailboats on a pool in a public garden.
Enfants au Luxembourg jouant avec des bateaux à voiles sur le grand bassin du jardin. (Public domain image courtesy of Bibliothèque national de France.)