Fairies, Vampires and Witches. A (Different?) History of French lLiterature 3304-1DPXW-KL-016
Classes aim at acquainting students with the main currents of French literature through the prism of the presence (in different literary periods) of fantastic characters: fairies, witches, vampires or werewolves. During the course, students will try to answer the questions why such characters regularly appear in the literature; why in certain periods they are more popular and in others less; how they are created depending on the dominant aesthetics; how their symbolic meaning change.
Selected topics discussed during the classes:
1) Morgan and Melusine, two types of fairies
2) Medieval werewolves
3) The Treaty of Paracelsus and its influence on literature
5) Vampires in the XVIIIth century
6) XIXth century and fashion for fantasy
7) Ondins, fairies and vampires in the 20th century
8) Contemporary longing (?) for fantasy.
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
• The student knows the terminology of the humanities.
• The student has in-depth knowledge of the processes taking place in the areas of culture, language and literature.
• The student has in-depth knowledge of the culture of France and French-speaking countries.
• The student has in-depth knowledge of cultural institutions and phenomena in France and French speaking countries.
• The student is able to use various sources and methods, including modern information technologies, to search, analyze, evaluate, select and use information necessary to participate in classes and to form critical judgments on this basis. S/He freely uses various lexicographical and grammatical sources.
• The student has in-depth research skills, including analysis of the work of other authors, synthesis of various ideas and views, selection of methods and construction of research tools, elaboration and presentation of results allowing for original solving of complex problems in the scope necessary to participate in scientific discussion and preparation of own scientific works.
• The student is able to carry out a critical analysis and interpretation of various products of culture (language, literature, art) with the use of original and new methods, to determine their meanings, social impact, place in the historical and cultural process.
• The student has the ability to formulate critical opinions about cultural products, based on scientific knowledge and personal experience, and the ability to present these opinions in various forms and media
Assessment criteria
attendance and contribution (preparation for classes, taking part in discussions)
project (group work)
written test
presentation / oral test
Bibliography
Chosen bibliography:
A. Anczyk, J. Doroszewska, K.M. Hess (red.), Czarownice. Studia z kulturowej historii fenomenu, Sacrum, 2017.
V. de Donder, Le chant de la sirène, Gallimard, 1992.
L. Harf-Lancner, Les Fées au Moyen Age. Morgane et Mélusine. La naissance des fées, Champion, 1984.
C. Lecouteux, Fées, sorcières et loups-garous, Imago, 1992.
M. Janion, Wampir. Biografia symboliczna, Słowo/obraz terytoria, 2002.
E. Petoia, Wampiry i wilkołaki, Universitas, 2003.
B. Sadoul (dir.), Fées, sorcières ou diablesses. Anthologie, Librio, 2002.
J.-M. Sallmann, Les sorcières, fiancées de Satan, Gallimard, 1997.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: