Dreaming and living. Fantasy and realism in French literature of the 19th century 3304-1DPXW-KL-028
At the outset, the characteristics of Romanticism as the first 19th-century aesthetic trend
will be presented. In this trend apart from engaged literature, oneiric works and works
depicting supernatural phenomena, referring to the reader's imagination and dreamlike
appear.
As an example of a work describing the reality and society of the epoch and at the same time
exploiting the fantastic motif, the novel by Balzac entitled "La peau de chagrin" will be
discussed.
The penetration of fantasy elements into the world presented in the aesthetics of
Romanticism will be presented on the basis of stories by P. Merimée and T. Gautier.
In order to present the main assumptions of the aesthetics of naturalism and the narrative
techniques used by naturalists, Maupassant's short story "Boule de Suif" and another
selected story illustrating the character of fantasy in this author’s works will be analyzed.
The analysis of works maintained in the aesthetics of symbolism will be preceded by a
discussion of the role of dreams and the exploration of the subconscious by poets of that
period. Selected poems by Baudelaire, Rimbaud and Verlaine will be presented as an
example of this type of creativity. Finally, students will become acquainted with prose works
that at the end of the 19th century showed the limitations of literary realism through the use
of i.a. fantastic elements ("Véra" by A. Villiers de l'Isle-Adam).
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After passing the seminar, the student:
a) knows and understands:
- at an advanced level, directions and methodology of research on French literature of the
19th century (K_W04);
- at an advanced level, the main issues in the field of French literary studies in relation to
issues related to realism and fantasy in 19th century literature (K_W05);
- principles of analysis and interpretation of French literary texts from the 19th century in
terms of realism and the presence of fantastic elements (K_W09);
- selected facts, processes and phenomena in the field of the history of French literature of
the 19th century, including the chronology of literary trends from this period (K_W10).
b) can:
- plan and prepare oral presentations in Polish, referring to basic theoretical approaches
related to realism and fantasy in French literature of the 19th century (K_U05);
- prepare a written work in Polish, referring to the knowledge acquired during the seminar
(K_U06).
c) is ready to:
- care for cultural heritage, especially in relation to French culture (K_K04);
- compliance with the basic principles of professional ethics and the principles of protection
of intellectual property and copyright (K_K06).
Assessment criteria
- mandatory attendance (two unexcused absences are allowed per semester); if a student
misses more than two classes, he or she will be asked to discuss the content of the missed
classes;
- preparation and activity during classes (reading texts, participating in discussions and
involvement in group work);
- written test on the knowledge acquired during classes
- semester paper or multimedia presentation (individual or in groups of 2) on a given topic;
- oral examination (depending on the result of the test).
Bibliography
J. Adamski, Historia literatury francuskiej – zarys [History of French literature - an outline],
Wrocław 1989.
K. Dybeł, B. Marczuk, J. Prokop, Historia literatury francuskiej [History of French literature],
Warszawa 2005.
J. Heistein, Historia literatury francuskiej: od początków do czasów najnowszych [History of
French literature: from the beginnings to the recent Times], Wrocław 1997.
Historie osobliwe i fantastyczne: nowela francuska od Cazotte'a do Apollinaire'a [Strange
and Fantastic Stories: The French Novella from Cazotte to Apollinaire] selection, introduction
and notes J. Parvi, Warszawa, 1975.
B. Mucha, Literatura francuska XIX wieku : wykłady o literaturze i kulturze europejskiej
[French literature of the 19th century: lectures on European literature and culture], Piotrków
Trybunalski 2005.
J. Parvi, Rzeczywitość i fantazja – szkice o literaturze francuskiej XIX wieku [Reality and
fantasy - sketches on French literature of the 19th century], Warszawa 1989.
Literatura francuska [French literature], t. II, XIX i XX wiek, ed. A. Adam, Warszawa 1980.
Additional information
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