Tony Simonneau
Time Slots
About this Class
Fantastic literature occupies a singular place in the French literary tradition—one with no true equivalent in the English-speaking world, where the closest parallel might be the realm of “weird tales.” It is a genre born from the intrusion of the supernatural into a realistic world, sustained by a lingering doubt as to whether these disturbing elements are real or imagined...
This course invites students to discover the genre at its moment of invention, through three landmark short stories by famous writers of the nineteenth century: Théophile Gautier (La Cafetière, 1831), Prosper Mérimée (La Vénus d’Ille, 1835), and Guy de Maupassant (Le Horla, 1887).
Conceived as a natural extension of the Les Temps Difficiles (“Difficult Tenses”) class—though entirely accessible on its own—this course is an invitation to wander through worlds of images, suspense and literary enchantment. Alongside close reading, each session devotes special attention to the literary tenses that are rarely heard in everyday speech, yet lie at the very heart of classical French prose.
The aim is twofold: to lift the grammatical obstacles that often hinder reading fluency, and to reappropriate these demanding forms through guided creative writing.
Sharpen your reading skills while surrendering to a journey of mystery, thrills, and dreamlike unease...
(All texts are available online, free of charge.)
Course Goals: Develop confidence and fluency when reading nineteenth-century French literary texts.
Understand how the fantastic genre creates suspense through ambiguity and uncertainty.
Identify and demystify literary tenses that often hinder comprehension of classical prose.
Reuse these advanced grammatical forms naturally through guided creative expression.
Enjoy French literature as a source of pleasure, imagination, and intellectual curiosity.
Typical Class Activities
Guided reading and collective discussion of short excerpts, emphasizing curiosity, interpretation, and shared discovery in a relaxed, non-intimidating atmosphere.
Playful grammar observations, where literary tenses are explored through examples, and patterns.
Creative writing workshops, inviting students to invent short fantastic scenes or unsettling situations while reusing literary forms in a supportive, low-pressure setting.
Imaginative group activities (rewriting scenes, shifting points of view, inventing alternative endings) designed to encourage freedom, creativity, and enjoyment of language.