Department of French
Scheduled papers for Part IB
In addition to language paper B3, you can also choose from 4 French IB papers dealing with the literature, thought, and history of France and another in French linguistics (though this paper will not be offered until October 2013). The papers are specifically designed for second-year students and are not available to Part IA or Part II students. All of the areas covered by these papers can be studied in Part II as well, without overlap, and no restrictions apply in choosing any of the Part IB or Part II papers.
Each of the 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 these topics, to be supplemented by additional reading from the reading lists. Section B is devoted to individual works, themes or 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 and supervisions, but in some cases there may be lectures on close reading as well.
The following papers will be available for Part IB from 2012/2013; 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):
Fr2: Structures and varieties of French Suspended for 2012/2013; this paper will be taught for the first time in 2013/2014
Fr 3:† Love, violence and power in France, 1100-1500
Fr4:† Rethinking the human: French literature, thought, and culture, 1500-1700
Fr 5: Revolution in writing, 1700-1900
Fr 6:† Innovation and upheaval: deformation and reformulation in the 20th and 21st centuries
The following brief course descriptions give guidance and introductory reading. Full reading lists are available from the Department and on the web.
