3.0

Average Course Rating

Since the publication of Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America in the 19th century, French writers have consistently been drawn to the United States as a focal point of their literary exploration. In this course, students will critically examine how French writers have engaged with American culture from an observational and analytical standpoint. They will investigate themes of attraction and repulsion, pro- and anti-American sentiment, and how these perspectives intersect with issues of gender, race, and class, as well as the evolution of American society in the context of Franco-American relations. Students will analyze and interpret novels, pamphlets, newspaper articles, poems, and essays to understand how these texts reflect the authors' perspectives on the U.S. and their sense of French identity in relation to American culture. They will also evaluate the impact of American writers who chose to live in France, exploring how their experiences influenced their work and personal lives. Through these activities, students will achieve a nuanced understanding of the complexities of Franco-American literary interactions. The course will be taught in English, with an optional additional hour in French for those pursuing a major or minor. All texts will be available in both languages.