Department of French
Scheduled papers for Part IB
New Part IB scheduled papers from 2012/2013
In addition to language paper B3, you can also choose from a wide range of French papers dealing with the literature, thought, and history of France. A paper examined in Part IB cannot be repeated at Part II, but it may form the basis of the compulsory Part II dissertation. Although in many cases the same papers are available in both Part IB and Part II, they are marked in the examinations at an appropriate level.
Unless indicated otherwise, each of the literature examinations consists of a three-hour written paper, divided into three sections, A, B, and C. You must answer three questions in the examination, one from each section. Section A consists of questions on two topics relating to the broad cultural, literary, philosophical, and historical movements of the period concerned. Lectures and seminars provided by the French Department will cover the main areas relevant to each paper. Section B is devoted to individual authors, and although departmental lectures will provide some teaching here, it is expected that much of the work for this section will be carried out in supervisions. Section C consists of a critical commentary. The passages will be chosen from texts which you may or may not have read previously. This is because this question is not a context question, but an exercise in the close reading of a text. This exercise will be practised primarily in seminars, but in some cases there may be lectures on close reading.
The following papers are available for Part IB; papers marked with a dagger may be replaced by a portfolio of essays - see the Faculty guidelines for further information (http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/MMLtripos/portfolio.html):
Fr 3:† French literature, thought, and history, before 1300
Fr4:† Occitan literature, thought, and history before 1356
Fr 5:† French literature, thought, and history, from 1300 to 1510 Suspended for 2011/2012
Fr 6:† French literature, thought, and history, from 1510 to 1622
Fr 7:† French literature, thought, and history, from 1594 to 1700
Fr 8:† French literature, thought, and history, from 1690 to 1799
Fr 9 French literature, thought, and history, from 1789 to 1898 Portfolio option suspended for 2011/2012
Fr 10:† French literature, visual culture, thought, and history, from 1890 to 1958
Fr 11:† Literature, visual culture, thought, and history in the French-speaking world since 1945
Fr 12:† A special subject in French culture: Early modern thought
The following brief course descriptions give guidance and introductory reading. Full reading lists are available from the Department and on the web.
