The purpose of the course is to see how two main Greek myths, which are very present in 20th century French literature (the myth of Oedipus and the myth of the Atreids), have been used and rethought in various ways. Authors such as Jean Anouilh, Jean Giraudoux, Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Marguerite Yourcenar did so in order to reflect on the issues of their day: questions of power, the place of women, love, war etc.
Various extracts from literary pieces will be used to illustrate the ways in which myths can receive various treatments and remain current. Students will have an entire work to read.