Course: French 4900/7900:  "The Culture of Romance"

 This course will explore the world of medieval romance.  As the modern English word "romance" implies, this is often a world of love.  But medieval romance implies much more than the stereotypical images we have of courtly love. In this course we will study the whole cultural "champ" that made romance possible.  We will do a kind of archaeological dig into the contexts and the conditions of possibility of medieval romance.

 The word "romanz" in Old French designates first all that is not "Latin," that is "romance" as in romance languages. The medieval romance is self-consciously a celebration of the vernacular language, of French.  We will therefore explore questions of culture -- high and low -- and try to locate this literature in that cultural space.  The word "roman" designates also a literary genre, and we will study a continuum of narrative styles from epic, lai, historical novel, to the roman itself.  The "roman" flourishes in 12th and 13th century France -- at the same time that visual art is flourishing.  We will examine the spaces of visual representation, particularly the movement from romanesque to gothic, and compare these to the narrative style of the "roman" itself.  The "roman" emerges, finally, in a world that is dominated by allegorical hierarchies and vertical polarities.  Yet the thrust of the "roman" is almost always horizontally forward: "le chevalier est toujours en quête . . . de quelque chose." We will explore this tension between allegorical and narrative movements.

 The course will be conducted entirely in French.  Original texts will be available in Old and Modern French.  Readings will be judiciously chosen so as to allow students to read carefully, thoughtfully, and very closely.  For graduate students a small selection of critical readings will be required.  Undergraduates are encouraged to enroll.  The only prerequisite for the course is adequate French and enthusiasm.
 

Work required: Attendance and willingness to participate in discussion are mandatory.  Two papers are required for the course: the first will be approximately 7-10 pages, due October 19; the second will be approximately 7-10 pages, due December 7.  Graduate students will be required to give a presentation on their final paper the last week of the term.  I might give a short final exam.
 

Grades: Grades will be based mainly on papers, but class participation will also count.  Each student will be judged only on their own performance.  Progress over the term will help the grade. Fall 2001
Professor: Jerry Root
Office: 003 Sill; phone 587-9285; email: jerry.root@m.cc.utah.edu; website: www.cc.utah.edu/~jr6353

Books: (Available at U. Bookstore)

1. La Chanson de Roland (selections available at Reserve desk in Marriot and by electronic reserve)
2. Marie de France (Bookstore, Livre de poche)
3. Romans de Chretien de Troyes (Bookstore, Pochetheque)
4. Roman de la Rose (Bookstore, Garnier Flammarion)
5. Le miracle de Theophile (Bookstore, Garnier Flammarion)

Syllabus

French 4900/7900 "The Culture of Romance"
Monday and Wednesday 12:25-1:45, MBH 112

Day 1 (August 22): Introduction to course
Bases de la culture du roman: (thematics of romance -- courtly love/clerkly vs chivalric; song vs writing;  theology of romance -allegory, typology, caritas; structure of romance - genre, conjointure, entrelacement) genre/theology/courtly love and how all of these affect literary and visual representation

Week 1 (Aug 27-29):-27: Roland, selections 29: Marie de France, Guigemar. Chevrefeuille

Week 2 (Sept 3 no class: Labor day; Sept 5): Milon, Lanval
Week 3 (Sept 10-12) Marie de France,Eliduc, Yonec
Week 4 (Sept 17-19) Chretien, Erec et Enide

Week 5 (Sept 24-26)Erec
Week 6 (Oct 1-3) 10/1:visite guidee du mss vatican Rose; 10/3 pas de classe
Week 7 (Oct 8-10) Lancelot
Week 8 (Oct 15-17) Lancelot
Week 9 (Oct 22-24) Perceval
Week 10 (Oct 29-31) Perceval

Week 11 (Nov. 5-7) Guillaume de Lorris, Roman de la rose
Week 12 (Nov 12-14) Roman de la rose

Week 13 (Nov. 19) Rutebeuf, Miracle de Théophile
Week 14 (Nov 26-28) Miracle de Théophile

Week 15 (Dec 3-5) présentations

Final Paper Due Dec. 7
 
 

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. In order to establish the existence of a disability and/or request reasonable accommodation for this class, you should contact the Center for Disabled Student Services (in Olpin Union Building at 581-5020, voice or TDD). Accomodations can then            be made with reasonable prior notice to the instructor. This information is available in alternative format with prior notification.