FRENCH LITERATURE AND CIVILIZATION IN TRANSLATION

French Literature and Civilization in Translation
FRENCH 270W
Fall 2007 Course Syllabus

Instructor: Nathalie Ettzevoglou
Email: nathalie.ettzevoglou@uconn.edu, nettzevo@hotmail.com
Time & Location: MWF 1-1:50 ARJ 243
Office: ARJ 402
Office hrs: Wed 12-1 and by appointment if that time doesn’t work!

Texts we are reading:
– Candide by Voltaire
– The Stranger by Albert Camus
– Demons of the Night, various short stories
– The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry
– The Little Girl and the Cigarette by Benoit Duteurtre
– The Calculus Affair by Hergé (Georges Prosper Remi)

Course description:

This course is designed to familiarize you with a few French texts that have been translated into English. No prior knowledge in the French language or literature is required. We will be exploring a variety of topics such as utopist ideas to existentialism to “nothingness” ranging from the 18th century to modern day. Also, this is a “W” course where writing will be emphasized greatly. According to the University policy, you must successfully pass the “W” component of the course.

Student Expectations and Requirements:

• All academic misconduct will be dealt with as outlined in the University of Connecticut handbook. This includes plagiarism.
• I expect you to come to each class prepared to discuss the book we are currently reading. More than 2 absences will result in your grade dropping. Please come to class on time, if you have a class before and are coming from the other side of campus, let me know!
• I do not have a late policy – papers are to be handed in class, they are due with no exceptions unless you have a dean’s excuse or some kind of valid explanation with proof. If you turn in a late paper even after class, that is an automatic full letter grade reduction. All papers are to be typed, double spaced, and stapled.
• Please inform me of any accommodations I must make for you if need be (for example, if I need to make the font in handouts bigger than 12, etc).
• Participation is vital for you to succeed in this class, if you do not participate (this does not include being physically present in class) then your grade will suffer.

Grading:
• 5 papers = 75% (no more than 4-5 page max but no less than 3)
• Participation = 25% which will be divided between in class participation and blog postings. 15% in class participation, 10% blogging.

Week 1
Aug 27: Introduction to course
Aug 29: Candide
Aug 31: Candide

Week 2
Sept 3: no class ☺
Sept 5: Candide
Sept 7: Candide

Week 3
Sept 10: Candide
Sept 12: Candide
Sept 14: Candide [1st paper due about Candide]

Week 4
Sept 17: The Stranger
Sept 19: The Stranger
Sept 21: The Stranger

Week 5
Sept 24: The Stranger
Sept 26: Short films
Sept 28: Short films

Week 6
Oct 1: discussion about short films
Oct 3: Demons of the Night-Maupassant’s Le Horla
Oct 5: Demons of the Night-Le Horla and Fear [2nd paper due about The Stranger]

Week 7
Oct 8: Demons of the Night-Verne’s Master Zacharius
Oct 10: Demons of the Night-Gautier’s The Dead in Love
Oct 12: Demons of the Night-Dumas’ The Slap of Charlotte Corday

Week 8
Oct 15: film Forbidden Games
Oct 17: film Forbidden Games
Oct 19: The Little Prince

Week 9
Oct 22: The Little Prince
Oct 24: The Little Prince
Oct 26: The Little Prince[3rd paper due on short stories/short films]

Week 10
Oct 29: The Little Girl and the Cigarette
Oct 31: The Little Girl and the Cigarette
Nov 2: The Little Girl and the Cigarette

Week 11
Nov 5: The Little girl and the Cigarette
Nov 7: The Little girl and the Cigarette
Nov 9: The Little girl and the Cigarette

Week 12

Nov 12: blog work
Nov 14: blog work
Nov 16: TBA [4th paper on The Little Prince due]

Week 13
Nov 19-Nov 23 Thanksgiving break

Week 14
Nov 26: The Calculus Affair
Nov 28: The Calculus Affair
Nov 30: The Calculus Affair

Week 15
Dec 3: The Calculus Affair
Dec 5: The Calculus Affair
Dec 7: Wrap-up of the course [5th paper on the Little Girl and the Cigarette due]

* This is not a finalized syllabus and may be subject to changes based upon our progress.