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French literature, the body of written works in the French language produced within the geographic and political boundaries of France. The French language was one of the five major Romance languages to develop from Vulgar Latin as a result of the Roman occupation of western Europe .
- The 16th Century
French literature - Renaissance, Poetry, Novels: The...
- Medieval, Lyric, Epic
French literature - Medieval, Lyric, Epic: The 12th century...
- The 17th Century
French literature - Baroque, Neo-Classicism, Enlightenment:...
- From 1850 to 1900
French literature - Realism, Symbolism, Naturalism:...
- Approaching The 21st Century
French literature - Renaissance, Enlightenment, Modernism:...
- Flaubert
French literature - Realism, Flaubert, Novels: It is easy to...
- Sand
French literature - Sand, Realism, Naturalism: George Sand...
- The Novel
French literature - Novels, Realism, Romanticism: Despite...
- The 16th Century
French literature ( French: littérature française) generally speaking, is literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French.
The earliest history of the French language and its literature was also written in this period: the Recueil de l'origine de la langue et poesie françoise, by Claude Fauchet, published in 1581.
As the language developed, French literature developed as well. Writers promoted the use of French, rather than Latin, in poetry and prose. They saw the French language as the key to building a truly great French culture, one that would rival the glory of the ancient world.
May 16, 2024 · The popularity of French as a first foreign language, in spite of numerous pronunciation difficulties for nearly all foreign speakers, is perhaps as much the result of the precise codification of its grammar, effectuated especially during the 18th century, as of the brilliance of its literature at all periods.
French literature is the body of written works in the French language produced by authors from France. The French people are proud of their language and of their long tradition of poetry, prose, and drama. Pure language and perfect form have been traditionally prized in French literature.
Columbia Encyclopedia > Literature and the Arts > Language, Linguistics, and Literary Terms > Language and Linguistics > French language > French language: History of French. History of French. French is descended from Vulgar Latin, the vernacular Latin (as distinguished from literary Latin) of the Roman Empire (see Latin language ).
