Abstract:
The preface of this work gives a history of the "explication de texte" and explains the importance B,D.d necessity for a more direct, simple, scientific method for the study of a foreign literature: by American students. The method is explained in detail for its educational aspects. Then a more simplified direct method is explained with detailed examples given in subsequent chapters. The first chapter explains a general view of the French literature of the Middle Ages with examples of the literature of five of the most famous works. The second chapter explains a general vie\l of the French literature of the 16th century with examples of the literature of Rabelais. Du Bellay. Ronsard and Montaigne.
The third chapter gives a description of French literature of the 17th century with examples of the literature of Corneille. Moliere. Racine and Madame de la Fayette. The fifth chapter contains the overview of the 19th century and the "explications de texte" of Chateaubriand. Stendhal. Balzac, Baudelaire and Flaubert. The sixth chapter gives an explanation of the 20th century French literature. This chapter contains a comprehensive list ana examples from thirteen of the 20th century authors from the dramatist. Paul Claudel, to the poet, Jacques Prevert.
