Contemporary French Writers: Autobiography and Fiction

This module will be available in 2012-13

About this Module

This module, taught and assessed in French, will focus on five contemporary writers examined from the point of view of the theories of Fiction and Autobiography. The following set texts will be studied: Marguerite Duras L'Amant, Nathalie Sarraute Enfance, Georges Perec W ou le souvenir d'enfance, Hervé Guibert A l'Ami qui ne m'a pas sauvé la vie, Régine Detambel La Verrière. 

Teaching and Learning

We will analyse narrative strategies and how the selected texts deal with different social issues and specific themes: i.e., identity, memory, autobiography, fantasy and the fantastic, the representation of gender, age, race, relationships, family, violence, intolerance, and subversion. NB: oral presentations are mandatory in seminars.  The module is capped at 35.  Attendance will be monitored in all teaching sessions.

Summative Assessment

• Term 1: one essay of 1200 words (20%)
• Term 2: one essay of 1800 words (30%)
• Term 3: two-hour examination (50 %)

Set Texts

During your year abroad you should read the set texts.

• L'Amant (1984), Marguerite Duras (Minuit)
• Enfance (1983), Nathalie Sarraute (Folio)
• W ou le souvenir d'enfance (1975), Georges Perec (L'Imaginaire)
• A l'Ami qui ne m'a pas sauvé la vie (1990), Hervé Guibert (Folio)
• La Verrière (1996), Régine Detambel (Folio)

Co-ordinator:

Dr Marie-Claire Barnet (marie-claire.barnet@durham.ac.uk), room A44, Elvet Riverside I.