FREN 1005
Literature of Montreal
Beyond the Two Solitudes: The Literature of Montréal
In this course, we will use a chronological approach and a sociological lens to examine four classic texts written in and about Montréal: Bonheur d’occasion; Les Belles-soeurs; Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer; and Le bonheur à queue glissante. While the first two works present the traditional image of Montréal as a city of “two solitudes,” one French and one English, the last two novels interrupt this trope, giving voice to ever-growing immigrant populations that do not fit neatly inside it. This course counts as elective credit towards the major in French. (FREN 0210 or 0221 or 0230)
In this course, we will use a chronological approach and a sociological lens to examine four classic texts written in and about Montréal: Bonheur d’occasion; Les Belles-soeurs; Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer; and Le bonheur à queue glissante. While the first two works present the traditional image of Montréal as a city of “two solitudes,” one French and one English, the last two novels interrupt this trope, giving voice to ever-growing immigrant populations that do not fit neatly inside it. This course counts as elective credit towards the major in French. (FREN 0210 or 0221 or 0230)