116-217 Female Imaginary in Ancien Regime

116-133 French I: Contemporary French B and 116-134 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.

Women's contribution to the field of literature in early modern France is remarkable. In both the 17th and 18th century it is they who controlled the majority of the literary production for two of the most popular genres: the novel and the epistolary. In the confines of the textual space, female authors break free of social and moral conventions that limit their sex by giving way to an audacious and often defiant narrative voice. Through the analysis of these two genres this course proposes to discuss the relationship between female narrative desire in women's fictional works and the female self-representation, particularly as it is set against the background of the male authored female narrative of Lettres portugaises.

• be capable of communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically - through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;

• develop skills in written communication through essay and assignment preparation and writing;

• develop skills in public speaking and confidence in self-expression through tutorial participation and class presentations;

• develop attention to detail through close reading and textual analysis, essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;

• develop skills in time management and planning through managing and organizing workloads for required and recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and revision for examinations.

weekly reading quizzes 15%, a 2000 word essay 40%, an in-class essay exam 25% and a 20 minute in-class exposé in pairs 20%.

• Gabriel Joseph de Lavergne, vicomte de Guillerages, Lettres portugaises.
• Madame de La Fayette (M Pioche de La Vergne), La Princesse de Cleves.
• Francoise de Graffigny, Lettres d'une peruvienne.
• Isabelle de Charriere, Lettres de Mistriss Henley publiees par son amie.