A close look at how the purposes, contradictions and anxieties of empire building are revealed in the French novel. First, an analysis of the postcolonial cultural critic Edward Said’s method of contrapuntal reading will make clear the uneasy dialectic between metropolitan and colonial histories in literary texts. Armed with this critical reading strategy, we will evaluate the impact of colonial expansion on narrative form, historical consciousness and stylistic choice in works by authors such as Honoré de Balzac, Claire de Duras, Victor Hugo and George Sand. Central to our preoccupations will be the global dimensions of the novel, the gender and racial dimensions of its characters, and the colonial novel’s place in the field of postcolonial studies. Course taught in English. Students may count this course toward the French major by completing readings and writing assignments in French.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 12

Crosslisted Courses:

Prerequisites: None.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered

Notes: Course taught in English. Students may count this course toward the French major by completing readings and writing assignments in French.