Introduction to French Literature
This MIT OpenCourseWare course studies major French literary genres and builds skills in literary analysis, taught entirely in French. Students act as jurors for the Goncourt Prize USA, reading and ranking novels from the actual Goncourt shortlist, the most prestigious literary award in France. The class elects a representative to present its choice at the Villa Albertine in New York alongside students from Princeton, Duke, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Virginia, while other students write a press article recounting the jury experience. Materials include the reading list, discussion assignments, and language-focused exercises aimed at improving spoken and written French alongside critical reading skills. The course is taught by Bruno Perreau, the Cynthia L. Reed Professor of French Studies at MIT. As with all MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, the materials are free to access with no certificate involved.