FREN 50.05 Montaigne and Proust

Montaigne and Proust, two of the greatest prose writers in the French literary tradition, represent distinct historical periods (the Renaissance and early twentieth century France) in which the idea of subjectivity is a major intellectual concern.  Using Montaigne and Proust's first person narratives as emblematic of their times, the course will examine how self-portraiture is manifested in time and space  and reflects upon broader notions of character, sensation, gender and sexuality, history and memory. Particular attention will be payed to how writing can be viewed as a way to suspend time, delay death and prolong life and sensation.  Paradoxically we shall discover  in each writer the failure of "autobiographical" narrative to establish identity.  Selectons will include representative Essais of Montaigne, Proust's Du coté de chez Swann and Le temps retrouvé, and short essays by Bergson, Bersani, Deleuze, de Man, Derrida, Genette, Kristeva and Lacan.

Instructor

See department website

Prerequisite

A course in the FREN 10 series or permission of the instructor.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:LIT; WCult:W

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