
- UCAS course code
- VR11
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Absurdist Fiction in Post-World War II France
Unit code | FREN20691 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Offered by | French Studies |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
French Absurdist fiction was born out of the despair that followed World War II. It addressed the apparent lack of meaning of the human condition and criticized the belief in human progress. We will start the semester with a play that is famous for having been inspired by a bloody French news event: Les Bonnes by Jean Genet (1947) is the story of two rebellious housemaids plotting to murder their employer. We will then study one of the best-known plays from the theatre of the Absurd, Fin de Partie by Samuel Beckett (1957), which broke with theatrical conventions. The play takes place in a seemingly post-apocalyptic ‘huis clos’ where characters appear to question their presence on stage. We will finish by exploring L’Écume des jours (1947) by Boris Vian, a poetic novel about love, desire and grief that has been adapted into a film by Michel Gondry. Introductory lectures will present the main themes, genres, and historical context, while seminars will focus on questions of human freedom, love and the desire to kill. We will see how the selected texts feature ‘nonsense’ talk and actions. By questioning the purpose of human existence, these texts question our own relationship with reality.
Aims
To provide an overview of Absurdist fiction in literature and theatre
To familiarize students with different forms of representation of human freedom, love and death drive.
To provide students with key concepts of Absurd fiction (‘nonsense talk’, ‘meaningless actions’, ‘purpose in life’, ‘absurdist humour’)
To be able to analyse and discuss main stylistic issues in key literary and dramatic texts
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students will be able to:
Analyse and discuss key concepts related to Absurdist fiction and to the Theatre of the Absurd
Demonstrate some knowledge of issues related to human freedom, death drive and notions of the meaning of life
Show some knowledge of two different literary genres from one specific period
Develop critical skills to analyse literary and dramatic texts
Syllabus
Week 1: Introduction to theories of the Absurd and main themes
Weeks 2,3,4: Jean Genet, Les Bonnes
Weeks 5,7, 8: Samuel Beckett, Fin de Partie
Weeks 9,10,11: Boris Vian, L’Écume des jours
Week 12: Review sessions and formative assessment in preparation for the final exam
Teaching and learning methods
Week 1 is composed of a 2-hour introductory lecture and 1-hour seminar
Weeks 2-5 and 7-11: A combination of lectures and seminars totaling 3 hours per week
Week 12 is dedicated to review sessions and formative assessment
Teaching in French and in English
Overview of Blackboard content:
All class presentations and extra material will be posted on Blackboard
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of this course students will be able to:
Demonstrate a sound knowledge of issues related to human freedom, purpose of human existence, and notions of the meaning of life
Understand variations in the representations of the Absurd by authors and playwrights from the post-WWII period and from different literary traditions.
Intellectual skills
By the end of this course students will be able to:
Think critically about literary representations of freedom, love, death drive, ‘nonsense’ talk and actions.
Analyse and synthesize a range of texts pertaining to Absurdist fiction
Develop a coherent and well documented argument
Practical skills
By the end of this course students will be able to:
Think critically about literary representations of freedom, love, death drive, ‘nonsense’ talk and actions.
Analyse and synthesize a range of texts pertaining to the genre of Absurdist fiction
Develop original ideas and engage with theories of the Absurd
Improve public speaking and group participation
Transferable skills and personal qualities
By the end of this course students will be able to:
Develop original ideas and engage with literary and dramatic theories
Improve public speaking and group participation
Assessment methods
Assessment task | Formative or Summative | Length | Weighting within unit (if summative) |
Coursework (commentary) | summative | 2500 words | 40% |
Essay plan (for sample exam question) | formative | 500 words | formative |
Exam | summative | two hours | 60% |
RE-SIT ASSESSMENT
Assessment task | Length |
Exam (1.5h commentary and 1.5h essay) | 3h |
Feedback methods
Feedback method | Formative or Summative |
written feedback on the commentary | summative |
written and oral feedback on the essay plan | formative |
written feedback on the exam | summative |
Recommended reading
Primary sources:
Jean Genet, Les Bonnes (Gallimard Folio)
Samuel Beckett, Fin de Partie (Les éditions de minuit)
Boris Vian, L’Écume des jours
Secondary sources:
Michael Y. Bennett, The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre and Literature of the Absurd, Cambridge University Press, 2015
Martin Esslin, The theatre of the Absurd, Bloomsbury Academic, 2014
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 22 |
Seminars | 11 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 167 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Jerome Brillaud | Unit coordinator |