Literary Studies Course - The Poetics of Night in 19th-Century Literature and Art Ip, IIp 3304-1DPXW-KL-047
The course will focus on the characteristics of the literary motif of night as presented against the backdrop of the major aesthetic movements of the 19th century—Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Decadentism, and Symbolism.
The course will begin by highlighting the significance of the motif of night for Romantic aesthetics, which symbolically distanced itself from the metaphorical clarity of the Enlightenment. Excerpts from Nodier’s fantasy story will be discussed as an example of frenetic literature employing the motif of a nightmarish night. Students will also explore the lyrical depiction of night in the works of the Romantics, as well as the use of this motif in A. de Musset’s Romantic drama. Based on an excerpt from a text by G. Sand and a piece by Chopin, the literary and musical “nocturne” will be presented. The painterly dimension of night will be explored through a selected prose poem by A. Bertrand.
The connection between night and pathological conditions—somnambulism, madness, and nightmares as symptoms of mental illness (Balzac, Nerval, Maupassant)—will also be explored.
In the literature of the second half of the century, the motif of night will be examined in the context of the aesthetics of Decadentism and Symbolism, in which night becomes not only a material space but also a psychological one. The presence of surprising, terrifying images is emphasized here. The class will explore the themes of moonlight (Verlaine) and dawn (Rimbaud).
Course coordinators
Mode
Learning outcomes
- The student knows and understands the role and significance of literary studies in the context of 19th-century French literature (K_W01)
- The student knows and understands the schools of thought and methodologies in the study of 19th-century French literature (K_W04)
- The student knows and understands the aesthetic movements in 19th-century literature and is able to identify their chronology and the connections between them (K_W05)
- The student knows and understands the principles of analysis and interpretation of 19th-century French literary texts (K_W09)
- The student knows and understands historical and literary facts and the processes occurring in 19th-century French literature (K_W10)
- The student is able to prepare a presentation on a given topic based on literary texts and critical studies of 19th-century French literature (K_U06)
- The student is able to apply knowledge of 19th-century French literature in a discussion (K_U12)
- The student understands the value of the 19th-century literary heritage and is prepared to help preserve it (K_K04)
Assessment criteria
- Attendance is mandatory (two unexcused absences per semester; if there are more, students must provide an oral explanation during office hours)
- Preparation and active participation in class (participation in discussions, group work—continuous assessment)
- Preparation of a final presentation (individually or in pairs)
- Written test (closed-ended and open-ended questions) covering knowledge acquired in class and the required readings
Regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in class and in the preparation of the final presentation, the rules set forth in Resolution No. 42 of the Teaching Council for the Romanic Philology program, dated April 15, 2024, apply:
Resolution: https://romanistyka.wn.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RD_uchwala_42_15-kwietnia-2024_wytyczne_SI_.pdf
Attachment: https://romanistyka.wn.uw.edu.pl/wp-
content/uploads/2024/04/RD_resolution_42_April-15-
2024_guidelines_SI_ATTACHMENT_1.pdf
Teaching methods: discussion (guided discussion), group work, flipped classroom, elements of the project-based learning method
Bibliography
K. Dybeł, B. Marczuk, J. Prokop, A History of French Literature, Warsaw 2005.
J. Heistein, A History of French Literature: From the Beginnings to the Present Day, Wrocław 1997.
B. Mucha, 19th-Century French Literature: Lectures on European Literature and Culture, Piotrków Trybunalski 2005.
French Literature, Vol. II, 19th and 20th Centuries, ed. A. Adam, Warsaw 1980.
Nights of the Romantics: Literature, Culture, and Customs, eds. D. Skiba, A. Rej, M. Ursel, Kraków, Universitas, 2015.
A selection of literary texts (or text excerpts), musical works, and reproductions of paintings.