This course will prepare students to analyze masterworks of French expression and develop an understanding of the historical and literary contexts in which they were written. It will also promote a deeper awareness of the French-speaking world’s cultural specificity and diversity. Tracking texts across time periods (medieval to present) and, on occasion, across continents as well (Africa, Canada, the Caribbean), students will focus on how literary expression responds to cultural crises and consider how writers deal with issues of gender, race, ideology, class and/or self-actualization. As they make their way through a select group of works, students will have the opportunity to hone their language skills in all four fundamental areas (speaking, listening, reading comprehension, and writing). Beyond the scope of literary texts, reference to a variety of visual arts will inform and enhance class discussion. Prerequisites: FRENCH 3160. Recommended: FRENCH 3410.