This course aims to introduce students to elementary issues of the theory of literature and prepare them for independant analysis of literary texts. First classes will focus on the following issues : definitions of literature, features of the literary language, means of existence of a literary work, horizon of expectations and intertextuality. Matters to be considered next are principle issues of poetics concerning poetry, prose and drama (forms of verse, rhyme, stylistic devices, principles of poetry reading, story/discourse, definitions of a short story, narrator, levels of narration, narration/description, focalization, character in a novel, time and space of a story/discourse, inner monologue, reality effect, dramatic text, dramatic situation…) Reading and study of theory will be the starting point for analysis of selected works (Apollinaire, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Flaubert, Maupassant, Queneau, Zola).

Course grading: active participation in class, 3 written tests.