Course Co-ordinator: Dr B Tribout

Pre-requisite(s): Available only to students in Programme Year 3 with a knowledge of French.

Note(s): This course may NOT be included as part of a graduating curriculum with FR 4563 (Thought and Laughter in Early Modern French Literature B). It will be available in 2013/14 and in alternate sessions thereafter.

After some consideration of the historical, aesthetic and philosophical contexts of the set texts (including an introduction to rationalism, libertinage, scepticism and the Enlightenment), a selection of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century works will be studied in detail, chosen for the way in which they exemplify the use of humour in the context of philosophical debate, entertaining the reader, but concealing unorthodox thoughts, and challenging notions of religion and toleraration, science and superstition, social organization and authority. Texts may change from year to year, but might include, for example, Molière's Dom Juan, Voltaire's Candide or Jacques le Fataliste by Diderot, etc.

1 two-hour seminar per week.

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: two written assignments 1,800 to 2,000 words (50% each).

1 two-hour written examination (100%).