Contemporary French Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at learning the foundations of the French contemporary literature as a heterogeneous cultural model and aims to consolidate the knowledge through readings aimed at emphasize the importance of the plurality of perspectives in the literary space. The course also aims to deepen the skills of critical reading and to provide methods and tools necessary for the analysis and interpretation of any literary text.
Expected learning outcomes
1, Students will be able to contextualize the evolution of French-language literature in relation to the main historical and cultural developments of the French cultural space, They will be able to grasp specific themes and motives of French contemporary literature with appropriate terminology and will be able to deepen the texts with appropriate methods and tools of analysis, 2) Students will be able to develop autonomy and flexibility in understanding the literary issues addressed during this course, They will then be able to answer questions of an interpretative and non-notional nature about texts and cultural contexts, developing critical skills, autonomy and awareness in the study of course topics, 3) Students will be able to examine texts and arguments in a comparative and critical manner and understand their concepts, structure and contexts, 4) Students will use notions and methodologies of literary criticism and related disciplines, looking for sources for documentation and knowing how to use bibliographic tools, both in traditional and electronic form.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Subject: WAR, PEACE AND IDEOLOGY
Learning Objectives:
· Analyze significant French literary works from the 20th and 21th century
· Analyze the literary representation of 20th-century wars and their resolutions
· Deconstruct the relationship between narrative, historical memory, and ideological devices
· Examine narrative strategies of resistance to dominant rhetoric
MODULE 1: THE "WORLD" WARS (3 ECTS)
a. THE GREAT WAR (1914-18) AND THE BIRTH OF THE ANTI-HERO
Focus: Disillusionment, critique of patriotic rhetoric
One text to choose from:
1. Henri Barbusse: Under Fire (1916)
o Analysis: Harsh realism of the trenches; first anti-war manifesto
o Themes: Brotherhood among soldiers vs. nationalisms
2. Louis-Ferdinand Céline: Journey to the End of the Night (1932)
o Analysis: Revolutionary language as an anti-ideological act
o Focus: Colonialism as an extension of war violence
b. SECOND WORLD WAR: BETWEEN RESISTANCE AND OBLIVION
Focus: Memory, reason, and survival
One text to choose from:
1. Romain Gary: The Kites (1980)
o Analysis: Resistance as political metaphor; the "impossible" hero
2. Patrick Modiano: Dora Bruder (1997)
o Analysis: Archival reconstruction of the Holocaust; disappearance as allegory
o Themes: Responsibility of memory vs. historical silence
MODULE 2: DECONSTRUCTION OF WAR NARRATIVES (3 ECTS)
Focus: Revisionism, pseudonymity, counter-stories
Required text for all:
1. Pierre Bayard: Would I Have Been a Resister or a Collaborator? (2009)
o Analysis: Scientific reconstruction of a possible authorial response to the dilemmas posed by Nazi occupation: resistance, surrender, or collaboration? A historical, ethical, and individual analysis.
MODULE 3 (9 ECTS): THEMATIC IN-DEPTH STUDY
Reading of one of the two texts not chosen in the first two modules, and thematic in-depth study related to the author and the work, according to the following possible reading paths:
· Barbusse and pacifism
· Céline and colonialism as an extension of war violence
· Romain Gary and the impossible individual hero
· Modiano and the rewriting of History
Learning Objectives:
· Analyze significant French literary works from the 20th and 21th century
· Analyze the literary representation of 20th-century wars and their resolutions
· Deconstruct the relationship between narrative, historical memory, and ideological devices
· Examine narrative strategies of resistance to dominant rhetoric
MODULE 1: THE "WORLD" WARS (3 ECTS)
a. THE GREAT WAR (1914-18) AND THE BIRTH OF THE ANTI-HERO
Focus: Disillusionment, critique of patriotic rhetoric
One text to choose from:
1. Henri Barbusse: Under Fire (1916)
o Analysis: Harsh realism of the trenches; first anti-war manifesto
o Themes: Brotherhood among soldiers vs. nationalisms
2. Louis-Ferdinand Céline: Journey to the End of the Night (1932)
o Analysis: Revolutionary language as an anti-ideological act
o Focus: Colonialism as an extension of war violence
b. SECOND WORLD WAR: BETWEEN RESISTANCE AND OBLIVION
Focus: Memory, reason, and survival
One text to choose from:
1. Romain Gary: The Kites (1980)
o Analysis: Resistance as political metaphor; the "impossible" hero
2. Patrick Modiano: Dora Bruder (1997)
o Analysis: Archival reconstruction of the Holocaust; disappearance as allegory
o Themes: Responsibility of memory vs. historical silence
MODULE 2: DECONSTRUCTION OF WAR NARRATIVES (3 ECTS)
Focus: Revisionism, pseudonymity, counter-stories
Required text for all:
1. Pierre Bayard: Would I Have Been a Resister or a Collaborator? (2009)
o Analysis: Scientific reconstruction of a possible authorial response to the dilemmas posed by Nazi occupation: resistance, surrender, or collaboration? A historical, ethical, and individual analysis.
MODULE 3 (9 ECTS): THEMATIC IN-DEPTH STUDY
Reading of one of the two texts not chosen in the first two modules, and thematic in-depth study related to the author and the work, according to the following possible reading paths:
· Barbusse and pacifism
· Céline and colonialism as an extension of war violence
· Romain Gary and the impossible individual hero
· Modiano and the rewriting of History
Prerequisites for admission
No propaedeuticity is given for this examination. Knowledge of French is recommended but not compulsory for non-French learners. The course will be taught in Italian. Students are required to have a basic competence in literary analysis.
Teaching methods
The teaching methods adopted will use textual analysis tools, literary criticism and notions of narratology. The lectures will be partly face-to-face and seminar-based in the last module.
Teaching Resources
PRIMARY BIBLIOGRAPHY (LITERARY TEXTS)
NB I have also indicated the French edition for those who know the language and wish to read the works in the original. But you are not required to.
MODULE 1 - THE 'WORLD' WAR
a. The 'Great War'
A text to be chosen from:
1. Henri Barbusse, Le Feu, 1916
- Recommended Italian edition: Il fuoco, Milan, Mondadori, coll. Oscar Cult, 2024 (translated by L. Ruggiero)
- Recommended French edition: Le feu, suivi de Journal 'une escouade, Paris, Le Folio Plus, 2007.
2. Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Voyage au bout de la nuit 1932
- Recommended edition: Viaggio al termine della notte, Milan, Corbaccio, 2022 (translated by E. Ferrero)
- Recommended French edition: Voyage au bout de la nuit, Paris, Gallimard, Folio, 2014.
b. The Second World War
A text to be chosen from:
1. Romain Gary, Les cerfs-volants, 1980
- Recommended edition: Gli Aquiloni, Milan, Neri Pozza, 2017 (translated by G. Bogliolo)
- Recommended French edition: Les cerfs-volants, Paris, Gallimard, Folio, 2013
2. Patrick Modiano, Dora Bruder, 1997
- Recommended edition: Dora Bruder, Milan, Guanda, 2011 (translated by F. Bruno)
- Recommended French edition: Dora Bruder, Paris, Gallimard, Folio, 2012
MODULE 2 - DECOSTRUCTION OF NARRATIONS
For all:
Pierre Bayard, Aurais-je été résistant ou bourreau?, 2009
- Recommended edition: Sarei stato carnefice o ribelle?, Palermo, Sellerio, 2018 (translated by A. Inzerillo)
- Recommended French edition: Aurais-je été résistant ou bourreau?, Paris, Minuit, coll. Double, 2022.
CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
ATTENDING STUDENTS AND TRIENNALISTS:
One essay of your choice from the following:
- Paul Ricoeur, Ricordare, dimenticare, perdonare. L'enigma del passato, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012 (translated by N. Salomon).
- Tzvetan Todorov, Memoria del male, tentazione del bene, Milan, Garzanti, 2015 (Kindle only).
- Susan Sontag, Davanti al dolore degli altri, Milan, Nottetempo, 2021 (translated by P. Dilonardo).
- Hayden White, Forme di storia. Dalla realtà alla narrazione, Rome, Carocci, 2018 (edited by E. Tortarolo).
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS AND MASTER'S DEGREE:
Two essays of your choice from the following:
- Paul Ricoeur, Ricordare, dimenticare, perdonare. L'enigma del passato, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012 (translated by N. Salomon).
- Tzvetan Todorov, Memoria del male, tentazione del bene, Milan, Garzanti, 2015 (Kindle only).
- Susan Sontag, Davanti al dolore degli altri, Milan, Nottetempo, 2021 (translated by P. Dilonardo).
- Hayden White, Forme di storia. Dalla realtà alla narrazione, Rome, Carocci, 2018 (edited by E. Tortarolo).
NB I have also indicated the French edition for those who know the language and wish to read the works in the original. But you are not required to.
MODULE 1 - THE 'WORLD' WAR
a. The 'Great War'
A text to be chosen from:
1. Henri Barbusse, Le Feu, 1916
- Recommended Italian edition: Il fuoco, Milan, Mondadori, coll. Oscar Cult, 2024 (translated by L. Ruggiero)
- Recommended French edition: Le feu, suivi de Journal 'une escouade, Paris, Le Folio Plus, 2007.
2. Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Voyage au bout de la nuit 1932
- Recommended edition: Viaggio al termine della notte, Milan, Corbaccio, 2022 (translated by E. Ferrero)
- Recommended French edition: Voyage au bout de la nuit, Paris, Gallimard, Folio, 2014.
b. The Second World War
A text to be chosen from:
1. Romain Gary, Les cerfs-volants, 1980
- Recommended edition: Gli Aquiloni, Milan, Neri Pozza, 2017 (translated by G. Bogliolo)
- Recommended French edition: Les cerfs-volants, Paris, Gallimard, Folio, 2013
2. Patrick Modiano, Dora Bruder, 1997
- Recommended edition: Dora Bruder, Milan, Guanda, 2011 (translated by F. Bruno)
- Recommended French edition: Dora Bruder, Paris, Gallimard, Folio, 2012
MODULE 2 - DECOSTRUCTION OF NARRATIONS
For all:
Pierre Bayard, Aurais-je été résistant ou bourreau?, 2009
- Recommended edition: Sarei stato carnefice o ribelle?, Palermo, Sellerio, 2018 (translated by A. Inzerillo)
- Recommended French edition: Aurais-je été résistant ou bourreau?, Paris, Minuit, coll. Double, 2022.
CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
ATTENDING STUDENTS AND TRIENNALISTS:
One essay of your choice from the following:
- Paul Ricoeur, Ricordare, dimenticare, perdonare. L'enigma del passato, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012 (translated by N. Salomon).
- Tzvetan Todorov, Memoria del male, tentazione del bene, Milan, Garzanti, 2015 (Kindle only).
- Susan Sontag, Davanti al dolore degli altri, Milan, Nottetempo, 2021 (translated by P. Dilonardo).
- Hayden White, Forme di storia. Dalla realtà alla narrazione, Rome, Carocci, 2018 (edited by E. Tortarolo).
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS AND MASTER'S DEGREE:
Two essays of your choice from the following:
- Paul Ricoeur, Ricordare, dimenticare, perdonare. L'enigma del passato, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012 (translated by N. Salomon).
- Tzvetan Todorov, Memoria del male, tentazione del bene, Milan, Garzanti, 2015 (Kindle only).
- Susan Sontag, Davanti al dolore degli altri, Milan, Nottetempo, 2021 (translated by P. Dilonardo).
- Hayden White, Forme di storia. Dalla realtà alla narrazione, Rome, Carocci, 2018 (edited by E. Tortarolo).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will take place orally and will consist of a dialogue on the topics covered in depth during the course and the assigned critical readings. All students, and especially non-attending students, are invited to consult the Lecture Register uploaded in MyAriel.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)