FRN 3017, World Literatures in French

Professor Binita Mehta

Office: Founders G-26B

Phone: (914) 323-5407 (on campus dial x5407)

Course Description

The course examines Francophone literature and culture from the Maghreb, the Caribbean, and Subsaharan Africa. A strong emphasis will be placed on the status of women, sexuality, the importance of Islam, the postcolonial status of some of these newly independent countries, as well as their relationship to France. We will also study the birth of “Francophone” literature, the connection between Francophone and French intellectuals especially during the Négritude movement and read poems and critical texts relevant to that period. The course material includes novels, short stories, poems, and two films.

Texts (available in Campus Bookstore)

Kane, Cheikh Hamidou, L’Aventure ambiguë (1961) (Sénégal)

Mariama Bâ, Une si longue lettre (1980) (Sénégal)

Maryse Condé. Moi, Tituba sorcière… (1986) (Guadeloupe)

Tahar Ben Jelloun, L’enfant de sable (1986) (Maroc)

Assia Djebar. Les femmes d’Alger dans leur appartement (1980) (Algérie)

A grammar reference.

A monolingual dictionary. Recommended: Le Robert Micro, Dictionnaire de la langue française, 1998.

A bilingual dictionary.

Course Schedule

FRN 3017/5017 meets one day a week.

Class Participation

Active participation in class and, therefore, regular attendance is required. More than three absences without an official excuse will automatically lower your class participation grade. The class participation grade will be based on attending class and active involvement in class activities. This implies good preparation and demonstration of interest in the material, the instructor’s comments and the contributions of your fellow students.

Homework

You are responsible for reading the assigned texts before every class. You will be handing in short 1-2 page summary of your reading assignment every other week. All homework must be TYPED and DOUBLE-SPACED and should include accent marks.

Essays

You will write two essays of 2-4 pages over the course of the semester. The due dates are marked on your syllabus.

Midterm

The midterm will consist of two essay questions to be written in French.

Oral Presentations
You will be expected to do one oral presentation over the course of the semester. For the presentation, you will lead a 5-10 minute discussion of one of the reading assignments from the syllabus.

Final Research Paper or Take Home Final Exam

You will work on a final research paper (5-7 pages) that will be due on the first day of final exams. You will set up an appointment with me after the Spring Break to discuss the details of your final paper. Those who do not want to write a research paper will have the option of a take-home final exam.

Grades:

Homework and Class Participation 25%

Papers: 25%

Oral Presentation: 10%

Midterm: 20%

Final Paper or take-home exam: 20%

Useful websites:

FRENCH MEDIA

www.lemonde.fr -- French newspaper, le Monde

www.liberation.fr --French newspaper, Libération

www.rfi.fr-- French Radio Station, Radio France Internationale

http://www.france-amerique.com -- See “Actualité”

www.france.com -- See “Agenda New York”

French News, Le Journal, every evening from 7 – 7: 30 p.m. on WNYE, channel 25.

FOR FRENCH EVENTS IN NYC THE TRI-STATE AREA

http://frenchculture.org/events/newyork --Links to French events in NYC and the Tri-State area

www.fiaf.org -- French Institute/Alliance Française of New York

http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/french/Mbase.html - NYU, Maison Française

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/french/maison/ Columbia University, Maison Française

http://www.mri.gouv.qc.ca/usa/en/new_york/affaires_publiques/publications.asp - Quebec Update, newsletter of the Délégation Général du Québec

www.bam.org -- Brooklyn Academy of Music

Schedule of Assignments:

(This schedule is subject to change)

Week 1

Introduction to the Course; Selected Poems

Week 2

Kane, L’Aventure ambiguë

Week 3

Kane, L’Aventure ambiguë

Week 4

Mariama Bâ, Une si longue lettre

Week 5

Mariama Bâ, Une si longue lettre (First paper due)

Week 6

Midterm Exam; Film, Sembene, Faat Kine

Week 7

Condé Maryse, Film; Moi, Tituba sorcière…Noire du Salem

Week 8

Condé, Maryse, Moi, Tituba sorcière…

Week 9

Tahar Ben Jelloun, L’Enfant de sable

Week 10

Ben Jelloun, L’Enfant de sable (Second Paper due)

Week 11

Ben Jelloun, L’Enfant de sable; Film

Week 12

Assia Djebar, Les femmes d’Alger dans leur appartement

Week 13

Djebar, Les femmes d’Alger dans leur appartment

Conclusion

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