Recent events such as the riots in the UK only last week make one realize the importance of literature with concepts like the notion of responsability for crime or evil deeds being the central point of say L'étranger or Bonjour Tristesse. In L'étranger (see French language resources on www.l'etranger.co.uk ) Camus constructs a character who is inexorably drawn towards an action he has no wish to commit for which in his own eyes he is not responsible and does not feel particularly linked to. In society's eyes of course it's a different matter with the prosecution making the value judgements about Meursault's background and acquaintances which a more traditional society will always make. This has been only too evident in the aftermath of the riots.
The selfishness of young individuals, interested in their own short term sensual needs, also much mentioned as a result of the riots is central to Bonjour Tristesse (see French language resources at www.bonjourtristesse.co.uk ). Cécile despite admiring her mentor and her father's future wife comes up with an elaborate scheme which culminates in a sequence of events which results in a dramatic and undesired conclusion-this goes back to the early 1950's. Despite the apocalytic statements about society we can at least say that literature helps us to get inside the mind of 3rd parties so we can consider actions, causes and consequences. The fact that we are going inside the protagonists' heads is an additional benefit-something cinema can only match very weakly-so despite some of these titles being half a century old the universality of literature holds good.
Get along to www.alevelfrench.com to find out more about the literature titles on offer and the new A*ttitudes AS level course.
The selfishness of young individuals, interested in their own short term sensual needs, also much mentioned as a result of the riots is central to Bonjour Tristesse (see French language resources at www.bonjourtristesse.co.uk ). Cécile despite admiring her mentor and her father's future wife comes up with an elaborate scheme which culminates in a sequence of events which results in a dramatic and undesired conclusion-this goes back to the early 1950's. Despite the apocalytic statements about society we can at least say that literature helps us to get inside the mind of 3rd parties so we can consider actions, causes and consequences. The fact that we are going inside the protagonists' heads is an additional benefit-something cinema can only match very weakly-so despite some of these titles being half a century old the universality of literature holds good.
Get along to www.alevelfrench.com to find out more about the literature titles on offer and the new A*ttitudes AS level course.
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