116-236 French Letters: Correspondence in France

116-133 French I: Language B or equivalent.

The letter can be considered as at once material object, cultural practice and literary text. This subject examines the letter from all three points of view. Students will study the practical constraints that governed the writing, sending and producing of letters from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century in France, and examine the elaboration of the codes and conventions of letter writing ‐ in particular, those pertaining to the love letter. They will also analyse extracts of those letters considered as models of the genre, and practise producing letters of their own. This subject enables students to gain an understanding of the structures and conventions of letter writing through both theory and practice. The subject is taught and assessed in French.

• develop critical thinking and analysis: through required and recommended reading, written assignments and tutorial discussion

• develop their written communication: through assignment preparation and writing

• develop an understanding of social, historical and cultural contexts: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge

• develop their attention to detail: through close reading and textual analysis and assignment preparation and writing

• develop time management and planning skills: through organizing workloads for required and recommended reading and assignment completion.

Class presentation of 1000 words 30% (written version due one week after presentation), written exercises totalling 1000 words 30% (due during semester), essay of 2000 words 40% (due at end of semester).

Materials will be provided by the School at the beginning of semester.

• Madame de Sévigné, Lettres choisies. Paris: Gallimard, 1988.