116-020 Poetics and Poetry

116-007 French I: Cultural Perspectives and 116-008 French I: Language in Context II or equivalent. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed first year European studies, see Prerequisites.

French poetry is a highly dynamic field - the site of major cultural innovation. The major part of this subject will be concerned with the understanding of poems by some outstanding figures in French poetry from the 16th century to the 20th century, such as Louise Labé, Ronsard, Nerval, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Apollinaire, Eluard. The work of women poets and their challenge to the canon will also be discussed. The examination of theoretical concepts will always be related to and illustrated by the study of poetic texts. At the end of the subject, students should be able to examine the different ways of reading a poem; analyse how texts function; demonstrate a knowledge of the general evolution of poetry in French literature and its place in the cultural context.

A classpaper of 1200 words in French, subsequently written up; an essay of 1600 words in French; and a written test of not more than 90 minutes.

A selection from collected works [éd de La Pléiade or Garnier] from Ronsard, Nerval, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Verlaine, Apollinaire, Eluard, Breton and women poets from the Reinaissance to the 20th century.