Specialization in French Literature

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Bachelor

Teaching semester

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen

Objectives and Content

The course delves into the novel as a genre in a diachronic perspective. Through the study of four representative novels, situated in their cultural and historical context and in light of central technical terms concerning the novel, the course gives an overview of the genre¿s development from the 17th century up to today.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, the student is expected to:

Knowledge

• have intimate knowledge of the works on the reading list
• have knowledge of the works¿ cultural and historical context
• have knowledge of narratology and central technical terms concerning the novel

Skills

• be able to utilize terms learned in independent analyses of the curriculum texts
• be able to analyze the texts thematically and in a cultural and historical perspective
• discuss orally and in writing research questions related to the curriculum

General competence

• be able to transmit knowledge in French within his/her own academic field orally or in writing
• be equipped to work independently with a research question and find relevant background material

Required Previous Knowledge

No official requirements, but all the teaching is conducted in French and presupposes high level of French.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

FRAN204 builds on FRAN122 and FRAN123. Students' language proficiency should be equivalent to those having completed course work on the 100 level.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

Due to academic overlap, credits awarded for completing FRAN204 are reduced by 10 ECTS if combined with FRAN253 or FRAN254.

Access to the Course

The course is open to all students admitted to the University of Bergen.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is normally conducted in the form of three-hour lectures, seminars and supervision over a twelve-week period.

If less than five students sign up for the course, the teaching may be adjusted to fit the number of students, e.g. by making lectures into seminars or other forms of individually suited teaching. If this should be the case, students will be notified on the nature of the alternative teaching arrangements before the registration deadline 1 Feb/1 Sep.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Students must attend at least 75 % of the lectures/seminars (including digital teaching) in order to be eligible for assessment in this course.

In the course of the semester, students are required to get approval of an oral presentation on a topic related to the curriculum of approx. 15 min. Students devise their presentations in conjunction with the instructor. Manuscripts of the presentation are to be handed in at the time of the presentation.

Mandatory assignments are valid for one additional semester following the semester of instruction.

Forms of Assessment

The exam is a four-hour written examination, which might be digital.

Examination Support Material

Grading Scale

The grading scale is A-F, where F is a fail.

Assessment Semester

Spring. Students with valid approvals on their mandatory assignments may also be assessed in the fall semester.

Reading List

The curriculum comprises four novels, as well as an introduction to the theory of the novel. The student engages with one representative novel from four of the five past centuries, as well as literary and historical background materials with bearing on the works in question. The student also reads an introduction to the theory of the novel/narratology, which is in line with the theoretical aim.

The reading list will be ready by 1 Jun for the fall semester, and 1 Dec for the spring semester.

Programme Committee

The program committee is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study program, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.

Course Administrator

The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study program.