FRE 670 - Tales, Shadows and Metaphors of World War II in France

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Threat, invasion, occupation and loss of freedom. Struggle for national identity. Voices of desperation, voices of hope. Silence. Tragedy, courage and optimism. Quiet assistance, underground resistance. Stories of the brave partisans who repelled the German threat, lessons learned from the War through literature and self-expression, metaphors of hope in the veiled works of those who lived the War. Through reading (novels, poetry and theater) and films, students will gain insight into the war that changed France forever in so many ways. Student reports as well as “explications de texte” will be required. Some attention will be given to culling segments of the works for use in the public school setting.