Master’s Seminar I: 19th- and 20th-Century French Literature in a Comparative Perspective 3304-2D2W-SM-029
The aim of the seminar is to prepare participants to independently write their master’s thesis in accordance with formal and substantive requirements, as well as with the principles of intellectual property protection. During the course, students will become familiar with the most important theoretical and methodological texts in the field of comparative literature, which will serve as a foundation for comparative analyses of selected works of 19th to 21st-century French literature.
In particular, the following issues will be addressed: from which perspectives recurring semantic elements in literature (motifs, themes, myths) can be studied; how these elements function within literary texts; and what methods can be used to explore the relationships between literature and other arts such as music and painting.
Students will also learn the general principles of writing a master’s thesis, including how to search for primary texts and critical studies, as well as how to prepare bibliographies and footnotes.
By the end of the first year of the seminar, students will choose the topic of their master’s thesis. The second-year sessions will be devoted to deepening their knowledge of selected comparative tools and to editing the thesis under the supervision of the seminar instructor.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes: Upon completing the seminar, the student...
... knows and understands:
basic comparative literature terms such as theme, motif, and myth (K_W04; K_W05)
the place and significance of literary studies within the system of academic disciplines, as well as its specific subject matter and methodological approaches, at an advanced level (K_W01)
grammatical, orthographic, lexical, semantic, phonological, and stylistic issues in French at an advanced level (K_W08)
... is able to:
apply basic theoretical concepts from comparative literature when planning research (K_U01)
use basic research skills in the field of comparative literature (K_U02)
independently analyze the functioning of themes, motifs, and myths within literary texts using tools offered by comparative literature (K_U02; K_U05; K_U06)
produce a written paper in French, drawing on the knowledge acquired during the seminar (K_U06)
... is ready to:
critically assess their own knowledge and skills (K_K01)
actively participate in French and Francophone culture through various forms and media (K_K05)
observe the basic principles of professional ethics and the rules of intellectual property and copyright law (K_K06)
Assessment criteria
Assessment Requirements:
Year 1:
Active participation and familiarity with required readings during classes
Passing a written test (covering material from classes and required readings)
Defining the research topic for the master’s thesis
Preparing a general outline of the thesis and a preliminary bibliography
Year 2:
Active participation in classes
Submission of the master’s thesis on a topic related to the seminar’s program
A maximum of two absences per semester is allowed.
Bibliography
1. P. Brunel, C. Pichois, A.-M. Rousseau, Qu’est-ce que la littérature comparée, Paris, Armand Colin, 1983.
2. Y. Chevrel, La littérature comparée, Paris, PUF, (1989), 2009.
2. D.-H. Pageaux, La littérature générale et comparée, Paris, Armand Colin, 1994.
3. D. Souiller, La littérature comparée, Paris, PUF, 1997.
5. M.-C. Huet-Brichard, Littérature et mythe, Paris, 2001.
6. J.-L. Backès, Le Mythe dans les littératures d’Europe, Paris, Cerf, 2010.
7. Histoire de la littérature française du XIXe siècle, (dir. A. Vaillant, J.-P. Bertrand et Ph. Régnier), Rennes, Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2007 (https://books.openedition.org/pur/188088).
8. Histoire de la littérature française du XXe siècle, (dir. M. Touret), Rennes, Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2008 (https://books.openedition.org/pur/187840 et https://books.openedition.org/pur/187970).
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: