French 4182 - Humanism in Early Modern France: From Rabelais to Montaigne

Institution:

Washington University in St Louis

Subject:

Description:

This course focuses on major aspects of Humanism as exemplified by two of the greatest writers of the 16th century: François Rabelais and Michel de Montaigne. Humanism designates the great intellectual movement of the Renaissance. Initially focused on the recovery of ancient authors and a renewed confidence in man's ability to grasp higher meanings, Humanism became a dynamic cultural program that influenced every aspect of 16th-century intellectual life. As the political and religious turmoil of the Reformation spread, however, Humanist assumptions (the very nature of reason and knowledge, their place and reliability) were in turn questioned. This "crisis" culminated in what is known today as "the collapse of French Humanism." We examine the importance of Humanism by focusing on the themes of education, self-inquiry, religion, gender roles, marriage, travel, health, and medicine. We pay special attention to the forms of expression that Rabelais and Montaigne adopt to reflect the newly discovered complexity of their world. Prerequisites: French 325 and French 326 or one of these courses and the equivalent Washington University transfer literature course from Toulouse or Paris. One-hour preceptorial required for undergraduates.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.wustl.edu

Phone Number:

(314) 935-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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