French III - Culture and Literature
French III – Culture and Literature is an advanced undergraduate-level course that builds on French II and provides students with a broader and more in-depth understanding of French-language literature and culture. The course has a clear academic focus and combines literary theories with cultural and textual perspectives, while also developing students’ written language proficiency in preparation for further studies at the bachelor’s level.
Couverture du premier volume de la collection « Le Livre moderne illustré » publié chez Ferenczi & fils à Paris en septembre 1923 : Écrits sur de l'eau... de Francis de Miomandre, contenant des gravures sur bois de Clément Serveau. Foto: Collection privée, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The course French III – Culture and Literature (15 credits) follows the progression from French II and aims to deepen students’ knowledge of literary and cultural studies, with a focus on French-language texts. The course introduces key theories, concepts, and methods in literary and cultural studies and provides students with tools for textual analysis in relation to historical, social, and cultural contexts. At the same time, students’ written language proficiency is further developed, with particular emphasis on academic French, idiomatic usage, and linguistic accuracy.
The course consists of two compulsory modules totalling 15 credits.
Modules
Literary Studies (7.5 credits) addresses central theories and methods in literary studies, encompassing both text-oriented and context-oriented approaches, such as formalism, structuralism, deconstruction, semiotics, reception theory, new historicism, postcolonial studies, and ecocriticism. These theoretical perspectives are applied to literary texts with a focus on analysis and interpretation.
Culture and Text (7.5 credits) explores French-language culture through historical and contemporary texts, which are analysed in relation to cultural and societal contexts, using concepts such as period, society, traditions, memory, interculturality, and translation.
Teaching is conducted in French and takes the form of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and exercises.
Assessment
Assessment is conducted in French and consists of a total of four examinations. Literary Studies is assessed through one written examination and one oral examination. Culture and Text is assessed through one written examination and one oral examination.
Examiner
Sofia Lodén, Mickaëlle Cedergren
