This study aims to examine the extent and limits of the comparison between Holland and China in French travel Literature of the 19th century. We particularly intend to comprehend the nature of the...Show moreThis study aims to examine the extent and limits of the comparison between Holland and China in French travel Literature of the 19th century. We particularly intend to comprehend the nature of the precise comparison: of which elements it consists, why she is made and in which manner. In order to answer this question, we analyse a corpus of multiple travel journals from different writers. We apply a method of Imagology, together with concepts as Orientalism and exoticism. From the analysis of the corpus results three research tracks: the material aspect of the comparison, the cultural aspect and the limits of Chinese Holland. The comparison between Holland and China has proved to be a complex structure, resulting from a long tradition as well as (erroneous) stereotypes based on different types of images.Show less
This thesis investigates the usage of the well-used but little researched descriptio puellae, a form of describing women that was used in medieval literature around Europe. The form is regularly...Show moreThis thesis investigates the usage of the well-used but little researched descriptio puellae, a form of describing women that was used in medieval literature around Europe. The form is regularly assumed to be written from top to bottom; starting with the woman's hair and ending with her hips, hands, or sometimes, feet. This thesis looks at how accurate this assumption is and also explores derivative forms of the descriptio puellae, such as the description of male characters (descriptio pueri) and the descriptions of feminine "subversive" characters that do not directly satisfy the feminine standards associated with the medieval status quo.Show less
Des châteaux aux tours, des jardins aux forêts ; Marie de France utilise divers espaces civils et naturels qui soutiennent les intrigues dans ses Lais. À ce qu'il paraît, L'objectif de la présente...Show moreDes châteaux aux tours, des jardins aux forêts ; Marie de France utilise divers espaces civils et naturels qui soutiennent les intrigues dans ses Lais. À ce qu'il paraît, L'objectif de la présente étude serait de lier les études médiévales et le concept de l'espace genré à travers les Lais de Marie de France, afin de montrer que la division de l'espace est intrinsiquement genrée et suit les tendances de la société féodale et patriarcale.Show less
Une étude de la perception qu'ont les voyageurs français du XIXe s. des Pays-Bas et les images véhiculées dans leurs récits à l'aide de l'analyse de deux relations datant de 1857, respectivement...Show moreUne étude de la perception qu'ont les voyageurs français du XIXe s. des Pays-Bas et les images véhiculées dans leurs récits à l'aide de l'analyse de deux relations datant de 1857, respectivement celle de Maxime Du Camp et Louise Colet. Les deux auteurs sont relativement peu étudiés, mais la critique littéraire les ont redécouvert actuellement.Show less
This thesis analyses the phenomenon of disillusionment in Balzac's 'Illusions Perdues' and Joyce's 'Dubliners', concerning people, the metropolis (Paris/Dublin) and notions of success. Built upon...Show moreThis thesis analyses the phenomenon of disillusionment in Balzac's 'Illusions Perdues' and Joyce's 'Dubliners', concerning people, the metropolis (Paris/Dublin) and notions of success. Built upon close readings of the texts, the thematic approach serves to highlight the continuities and breaks between Romantic-Realism and the beginnings of Modernism, whilst reassessing the traditional Flaubert-Joyce link in favour of Balzac's own influence on Joyce.Show less
In this thesis we have studied the use of food and the use of ‘the table’ in some of the works by Gustave Flaubert and Guy de Maupassant, both well-known French writers from the 19th century. Many...Show moreIn this thesis we have studied the use of food and the use of ‘the table’ in some of the works by Gustave Flaubert and Guy de Maupassant, both well-known French writers from the 19th century. Many of the scenes seem to take place around the table, with meals often being described in detail. Specific research into this shows how the writers have devoted much detail and care to the theme of food, and that it is not purely ‘added’ due to the realistic/naturalistic nature of their works, or just for the sake of ‘showing off’ and ‘decoration’, as some studies might imply. By approaching the food as a theme on its own, its seemingly innocent character soon translates into social criticism.Show less
Dans le chef-d’œuvre de Marcel Proust, "À la recherche du temps perdu", le lesbianisme joue un rôle fondamental. Notre analyse de la représentation du lesbianisme dans le roman permet une meilleure...Show moreDans le chef-d’œuvre de Marcel Proust, "À la recherche du temps perdu", le lesbianisme joue un rôle fondamental. Notre analyse de la représentation du lesbianisme dans le roman permet une meilleure compréhension de ce rôle. Les différents personnages lesbiens et leurs rapports ont été étudiés profondément pour répondre aux questions fondamentales de notre recherche : quelles ressemblances et différences y a-t-il entre les différentes images du lesbianisme dans "À la recherche du temps perdu" et quelle en est la fonction dans le récit ? Il ressort de l’analyse que le lesbianisme dans la "Recherche" est représenté comme un phénomène équivoque à multiples facettes, que caractérisent la grande variété et la multiplicité. L’image du lesbianisme est caractérisée par des contrastes, qui semblent parfois même être contradictoires. En ce qui concerne la fonction des rapports lesbiens au niveau du récit, on en pourrait distinguer trois principales : l’augmentation de la jalousie du protagoniste, la diminution de ses doutes sur l’amour d’Albertine pour les femmes et l’accentuation de l’exclusion du narrateur mâle. Ces éléments contribuent tous à l’intrigue principale. Considérant l’importance des doubles dans la "Recherche", on pourrait en plus voir dans l’amour lesbien un double contrastant de l’amour proustien et de l’amour homosexuel masculin.Show less
Le roman de banlieue réaliste-son émancipation-la déghettoisation-la trame de l'intrigue dans Viscéral-La perception et la reception du personnage dans Kiffe kiffe demain- L'apport culturel et...Show moreLe roman de banlieue réaliste-son émancipation-la déghettoisation-la trame de l'intrigue dans Viscéral-La perception et la reception du personnage dans Kiffe kiffe demain- L'apport culturel et idéologique dans Kiffer sa raceShow less
This thesis examines the role of natural elements in the fairy tales of Madame d'Aulnoy, written in the 17th century. It was assumed that nature did not play an important role in this century,...Show moreThis thesis examines the role of natural elements in the fairy tales of Madame d'Aulnoy, written in the 17th century. It was assumed that nature did not play an important role in this century, however, the opposite is true. Moreover, fairy tales were in vogue during this period and Madame d'Aulnoy contributed to this popularity. She had a detailed and innovative writing style and she had knowledge about animals and nature. This thesis aims to prove that nature was present in the literature during this century and more specifically in fairy tales, by answering the following questions: what natural elements does Madame d'Aulnoy use? ; How does she uses these elements? ; and finally, based on the work of Trivisani-Moreau (2001), we tried to determine the role of these elements by focusing on a thematic analysis of trees.Show less
Fiction – in the hands of powerful men and women – can influence society and politics, directly or indirectly. Although the role of a novelist is different from the role of a politician, they both...Show moreFiction – in the hands of powerful men and women – can influence society and politics, directly or indirectly. Although the role of a novelist is different from the role of a politician, they both have responsibilities towards society, especially if they are famous and powerful men like Houellebecq and Macron. The public, citizens in a democracy, also have their responsibility to be active and critical, but may not always be aware of "the art of manipulation". In this age, in which storytelling and "fake news" seem to have more impact (or credibility) than arguments and facts, we might state that the power of skillful writers is more important than ever. In what way are Houellebecq and Macron responsible for (the impact of) their writings, what is the power of their words, and what does this power mean in France today? In this thesis we compare Submission and Revolution, using theories from literature but also from sociology and historiography, notably the concepts of "performativity" and “storytelling”, applicable in several fields. Attentive to their differences, we'll compare a literary and a political book, analysing the use of fiction combined with politics and vice versa.Show less
In 2012-13, the French government’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage inspired mass protests in several cities for more than a year. This was surprising, as several other West-European states...Show moreIn 2012-13, the French government’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage inspired mass protests in several cities for more than a year. This was surprising, as several other West-European states had previously introduced similar bills without much controversy. These countries all had shown a clear pattern of rapidly declining prejudice against sexual minorities during the last decades. Some scholars have suggested, however, that in France this newly found acceptance of LGB individuals has not generalized to same-sex parenting, as the model of the heterosexual family remains one of the essential components of the dominant French national ideology and its quest for “abstract universalism”. In this thesis, I compared attitudes towards homosexuality and gay parenting in France and Europe. Analyzing datasets from the European Social Survey, I found evidence that French attitudes towards homosexuality are largely identical to those of other Western Europeans. However, French views on gay parenting turned out to be much more polarized than in other countries where gay marriage had been legalized. This may partly explain why such large protests against gay marriage had arisen in France in 2012-13, but not elsewhere in Europe where similar policies have been enacted.Show less
In this thesis, I analyze the view that the narrator of Madame Bovary takes on the society of the (fictional) French provincial town of Yonville. Gustave Flaubert, the author of the novel, strongly...Show moreIn this thesis, I analyze the view that the narrator of Madame Bovary takes on the society of the (fictional) French provincial town of Yonville. Gustave Flaubert, the author of the novel, strongly insist in his famous Correspondence on the impersonality and the objectivity of the author. Being the emissary of the author, the narrator therefore also has the task to withhold himself from any subjective statements or emotions and so on. However, there are multiple indications (both resulting from the novel itself and from the remarks of scholars) that question the approach so called ‘impersonal’ of the narrator. Giving ironic descriptions of his characters, and sometimes mocking them overtly, he doesn’t always seem to live up to the position of an objective narrator. Apparently, there is a contrast between Flaubert’s aesthetics (as pronounced in his Correspondence), that state that the narrator has to stay impersonal and even impassive, and the actual approach of the narrator in Madame Bovary. The claim we have made is that the narrator is above all a person himself as well, who has his own feelings that he expresses accordingly.Show less
Ce mémoire examine le rôle du 'négatif' dans la théorie littéraire de Maurice Blanchot, son lien avec 'l'espace littéraire', et l'influence de Martin Heidegger à ce propos.
La question centrale de ce mémoire est : Dans quelle mesure le chevalier de Mailly utilise-t-il le merveilleux et la galanterie pour créer une œuvre d’une identité indéfinie ? Le chevalier de...Show moreLa question centrale de ce mémoire est : Dans quelle mesure le chevalier de Mailly utilise-t-il le merveilleux et la galanterie pour créer une œuvre d’une identité indéfinie ? Le chevalier de Mailly a combiné deux tendances littéraires dans son œuvre « Les Illustres Fées. Contes galans. Dédié aux Dames » de 1698. Le livre fait partie du courant littéraire des contes de fées, dont on peut trouver beaucoup de caractéristiques dans les histoires. En outre, l’auteur y a ajouté de la galanterie. Il s’agit d’une galanterie qui rend les héros encore plus agréables, mais il y a aussi une galanterie licencieuse qui crée une couche plus adulte. Les deux tendances se renforcent dans l’œuvre : la galanterie fait que la structure des contes de fées est plus facile à reconnaître et les contes de fées créent des conditions pour une insertion facile de la galanterie. Ainsi, l’auteur a créé un livre destiné à un lectorat divers par son identité ambiguë.Show less
The writings of André Gide and Julien Green are very much influenced by the oppression they felt by the strict moral rules of Christianity during their childhood. The spiritual struggle they have...Show moreThe writings of André Gide and Julien Green are very much influenced by the oppression they felt by the strict moral rules of Christianity during their childhood. The spiritual struggle they have had during their entire life made them criticize the demanding character of religion, and of Protestantism in particular. The two writers are very different when it comes to their origins, their attitude towards religion and their literary style, but in these novels, it is clear that they elaborate the same theme: that of the excessive Christian morality. In this study, the focus will be on the way both authors underline and question the strict moral rules that the protagonists of their novels impose themselves. First, a closer look will be taken at the spiritual quest the authors have gone through themselves in respect to the religious heritage of their childhood. Secondly, the novels will be studied by focusing on the way Gide and Green deal with the theme of excessive morality and express the critical attitude they adopt towards these excesses of the Christian religion.Show less
