FR40080 Voltaire: Redefining the Hero

Academic Year 2020/2021

Voltaire - eighteenth-century French writer, thinker, campaigner and key figure of the Enlightenment - engaged with and subverted contemporary visions of heroism and of scepticism throughout his life and writings. In order to trace the evolution of Voltairean ideas throughout his texts, this course proposes to delve into the philosophe's many literary attempts at re-defining literary parameters. Commencing with his early texts (history; poetry; theatre), focus will turn to Voltaire's sojourn at Potsdam and the development of the 'conte philosophique'; finally, the nature of both Voltairean scepticism and its connection with the hero-figure of the campaigns against judicial and societal injustices will be identified and analysed. Given the enormous influence that Voltaire's texts have exerted on readers' perceptions and values, students are encouraged to examine texts in the light of modern theories on the author and reader, with particular focus on the problematics of authorship and censorship.
Core Texts: specific bibliographies will be discussed and developed within the seminar group.
Reading material in this module is mainly in French and discussion normally takes place through the medium of French.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, students will have:
1) Acquired excellent familiarity with Voltaire as author, thinker, writer;
2) Engaged with and discussed in detail works by Voltaire across a variety of (up to six) different genres;
3) Reflected in a subtle, analytical way on the ideas that are developed throughout the works of Voltaire, from his earliest writings through to his late works;
4) Developed skills that permit them to discuss various early modern narratives in the light of relevant modern literary theories;
5) Participated fully in seminars; given class presentations; and produced a substantial critical and analytical essay at the end of the module.

Indicative Module Content:

A selection of works by Voltaire across a variety of genres will be selected and studied from the perspective of scepticism (literary doubt) and with particular focus on the evolution of the voltairean hero/ine figure.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

20

Specified Learning Activities

80

Autonomous Student Learning

120

Total

220

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Critical Writing skills.
This module invites students to engage in close literary reading and analysis through focus on a broad corpus across six genres. Students are encouraged to read widely before identifying and defining their individual essay focus.
During the semester, students learn to identify key tropes within a variety of works by Voltaire and to situate the ideas therein within a broader enlightenment context.
Students practice analysis, presentation and critical writing skills.
The final assessment is an extended (5000 word) research essay, including significant bibliographical work and engagement with a rich corpus of secondary criticism. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
FR30120 - Voltaire


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Extended essay [with Essay Plan submitted before end of semester] Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

60

Seminar: Seminar preparation, contributions and short (formal and informal) presentations Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

40


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on punctual analytical and critical tasks (formative), including final essay plan and preparation. Final summative feedback.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Stephen Schwartz Lecturer / Co-Lecturer