Topics in French Literature and Culture: Fantastic Fictions, 1650-1750

This course examines a series of classic French works from a variety of genres (theater, poetry, novels and tales) in which human protagonists encounter the supernatural: gods and monsters, magic objects and speaking animals, mysterious travels and transformations. The authors often adapted ancient stories but also created new and enduring myths, employing outlandish fictions not only to entertain but also to raise moral, social, and philosophical questions. Classes will focus on attentive reading and discussion of the texts while taking into account their historical context, as well as visual interpretations such as illustrations and movies.