A Genetic Approach to Teaching Madame Bovary

When teaching Madame Bovary with a genetic approach, one must define a specific issue (for example that of description) and consider a specific passage of the text (for example the landscape description that replaces Emma's surrendering to Rodolphe). Although narratology teaches the predominance of action, the scenarios show that the event, originally stated, is progressively replaced by a metonymic description; the paralipsis is a result of these transformations. In the rough drafts, further changes bring to light different modes of textual production that do not obey predefined criteria. Students therefore acquire a new interpretative approach, understanding better the devices and functioning of the novel. (EJLC)