In-depth study of Francophone authors (from the beginnings to 1350)

Duration

30h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Sophie Lecomte 

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Depending on the year, the course is devoted to the in-depth study and analysis of a corpus of texts from the period in question. This corpus, whose chronological boundaries are, at the earlier end, the origins of French literature and, at the later end, the conventional date of 1350, will consist, depending on the year, of the works of one or more authors or of several texts in the langue d'oïl, enabling a comparative study based on a narrative or rhetorical motif, a character or archetype, a
cultural environment, a theme, etc.

The theoretical component, which is necessarily selective, aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the texts on the syllabus, to situate them within the various contexts in which they were written, but also to examine how we read these texts today.

The practical component enables students to practise conducting a detailed personal analysis of extracts (not covered in the theoretical module) using the knowledge acquired throughout the lessons.

 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the course, students should be able to write an in-depth personal commentary or analysis of an extract from a medieval literary text from the period under consideration - whether or not it has been covered in the course (but directly related to the corpus studied) - by situating it within its various contexts (literary, cultural, historical, etc.). To achieve this objective, students must:

• be able to read and understand a medieval literary text in Old French, accompanied by a French translation and/or a selective glossary;* have an in-depth knowledge of the texts and authors studied, and their historical and cultural contexts;
• be able to demonstrate, using a specific example, the importance of having a text that has been carefully edited in order to interpret it correctly;
• examine our contemporary reading of medieval texts, both in terms of periodisation and in terms of breaks and continuities with the knowledge of Romance literature acquired during the course of study (from the Middle Ages to the present day).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

None. A basic knowledge of Old French will, however, make it easier to prepare for and revise the lessons at home (but see below).

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The theoretical part will be organised into several chapters or modules, consisting mainly of theoretical lectures, historical presentations, analyses of extracts from the corpus under study, and group discussions prompted by a case study or teaching material.

The practical component will comprise individual or group exercises. Based on an extract not covered in the theoretical part of the course, students will practise writing, during each session, a commentary that addresses the course's learning objectives (see above). The analyses will be shared with others (in groups of at least two) and form an integral part of the course content.

The compulsory reading list (which may need to be purchased) will be provided during the first session. A reading portfolio, available on eCampus as the sessions progress, will also serve as a resource for the lessons. As the course is offered as part of the curriculum for various degree programmes, students will be provided with a translation into modern French; requirements regarding the reading of texts in the original language will be explained during the first session, depending on the students actually enrolled on the course.

Students are expected to:

• participate actively in each class session, regardless of the teaching method used;
• complete any preparatory work requested in advance of certain theory lessons by the specified date (relevant documents will be sent to students by Wednesday of the previous week at the latest);
• systematically read the texts analysed during practical sessions by the specified date and check their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary, syntax, etc. (excerpts will be sent to students by Wednesday of the previous week at the latest);
• familiarise themselves with the course materials as soon as they are published on eCampus;
• make relevant links between the course content and other modules in their degree programme.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-face course


Further information:

In presence teaching.

If the evolving health situation requires it: remote classes.

Duration and period: second four-month term, 30 hours of theory + 15 hours of practical work (in accordance with the academic calendar, 12 two-hour theory sessions, totalling 24 hours, + 6 two-hour practical sessions, totalling 12 hours). The practical sessions will not begin as soon as classes resume in February; a notice regarding the resumption of practical sessions will be issued during the term.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège


Further information:

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège


Further information:

The compulsory reading (which may need to be purchased) and recommended reading will be announced during the first session. The texts for the reading portfolio will be announced as the sessions progress. PowerPoint slides will be uploaded to eCampus by the Wednesday following each session at the latest; as these slides contain only the essential information from each lesson (outline, extracts analysed in class, dates, names, any illustrations, etc.), note-taking is compulsory.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Further information:

The examination will consist of writing an in-depth commentary or analysis of two extracts, one of which forms part of the material studied in class and the other of which does not; these will account for 2/3 and 1/3 respectively of the final mark out of 20.

If the exam contains more than five linguistic errors, a penalty will be applied to the final mark out of 20 (max. -1/20).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Sophie.Lecomte@uliege.be (Office 5/43, on the fifth floor of Building A2)

Association of one or more MOOCs

There is no MOOC associated with this course.