17th-Century French Literature: Genres, Classicism, and Le Cid
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Vocabulary flashcards covering 17th-century French literature, classical theatrical genres and rules, and Pierre Corneille's Le Cid.
31 Terms
La littérature
The body of written or spoken works possessing artistic and aesthetic value, defined as the art of expressing ideas, emotions, or narratives through the beauty of words.
Le Roman
A long imaginary story written in prose without rhymes, recounting the lives, adventures, and sentiments of characters (e.g., La Princesse de Clèves).
La Princesse de Clèves (1678)
A major 17th-century work written by Madame de La Fayette, serving as a prime example of the novel genre.
La Poésie
A literary genre that utilizes the beauty of words, rhythm, and rhyme to express powerful emotions, vivid imagery, or musicality through language.
Les Fables (1668–1694)
A celebrated poetic work by Jean de La Fontaine that illustrates the expressive and rhythmic qualities of French poetry.
L'Essai
A genre of writing in which an author presents personal reflections and viewpoints on serious subjects such as politics, philosophy, science, or society.
Les Pensées (1670)
A foundational work by Blaise Pascal that exemplifies the essay genre through deep philosophical and personal reflections.
Le Théâtre
A narrative designed to be performed by actors on stage before an audience, advancing entirely through character dialogue without a narrator.
La Comédie
A theatrical genre designed to entertain and amuse the audience, featuring ordinary individuals (such as bourgeois or valets) handling everyday conflicts, traditionally ending happily in marriage.
La Tragédie
A serious and grave dramatic genre featuring monarchs or historical heroes confronting an inescapable fate, intended to elicit pity and terror, almost always ending in death.
La Tragi-comédie
A hybrid theatrical genre that combines grave stakes, deadly peril, and combat from tragedy with dramatic twists that ultimately produce a happy ending.
Le Classicisme
A 17th-century movement that values order, clarity, balance, and reason, imposing strict structural and moral rules upon playwrights.
Unité d'action
A classical theater rule dictating that a play must center on a single main plot, with all secondary storylines directly connected to prevent confusing the spectator.
Unité de temps
A classical dramatic rule requiring that the entire action of a play unfold within a maximum timeframe of 24 hours (from sunrise to sunset).
Unité de lieu
A classical theater requirement that the entire dramatic action take place in a single setting, commonly an antechamber, a palace, or a public square.
La règle de la vraisemblance
The classical principle of verisimilitude, requiring that events and character behaviors appear logical, believable, and natural to the audience rather than absurd or impossible.
Bienséance interne
The rule of internal decorum requiring every character to act and speak strictly in accordance with their social rank and age (e.g., a king speaking with dignity).
Bienséance externe
The rule of external decorum prohibiting violence, physical combat, bloodshed, and deaths from being shown on stage, requiring violent actions to be reported by a messenger.
Alexandrin
A classical verse form consisting of 12 syllables structured with regular rhyming couplets (AABB), used to ensure balance across standard 5-act plays.
« Placere et docere »
The classical purpose of theater to 'please and instruct,' assigning a moral function to drama rather than treating it merely as entertainment.
« Castigat ridendo mores »
The Latin principle meaning 'it corrects morals by laughter,' describing comedy's objective to reform human flaws through humor.
Catharsis
The purification of spectators' passions through tragedy, achieved by confronting them with the devastating outcomes of anger, vengeance, or jealousy.
Le Cid (1637)
A famous tragi-comedy by Pierre Corneille set in Seville, Spain, depicting the profound clash between romantic passion and familial honor.
Don Rodrigue
The hero of Le Cid who avenges his father by killing the Comte de Gormas, defeats the invading Moorish fleet, and earns the title 'Cid.'
Chimène
The female protagonist of Le Cid who remains deeply in love with Don Rodrigue but is compelled by filial duty to demand his execution for killing her father.
Don Diègue
Don Rodrigue's aging father in Le Cid, who is slapped by the Comte de Gormas and calls on his son to restore the family's honor in a duel.
Le Comte de Gormas
Chimène's father in Le Cid, who insults Don Diègue with a slap during a political dispute and is subsequently slain in a duel by Don Rodrigue.
Les Maures
The invading fleet defeated during a night battle by Don Rodrigue, an achievement that earns him the title of 'Cid' (Lord) and royal admiration.
Don Sanche
Chimène's suitor who fights Don Rodrigue in a judicial duel ordered by the King, where he is defeated but spared.
Dilemme cornélien
An excruciating psychological choice between two irreconcilable fundamental values, specifically the conflict between love (the heart) and duty/honor (avenging family).
La querelle du Cid
The critical dispute and jealousy triggered by the popular success of Le Cid, centered on Pierre Corneille's loosening of classical rules regarding the unity of place and 24-hour unity of time.