A comprehensive study of the stylistic, aesthetic, and philosophical developments of modern French poetry from 1900 to the late 1990s. Attention will be given to the influence of nineteenth century symbolism, to the relation of poetry to painting and other plastic arts, to the effect of the machine age on poetic style, to creations of surrealist imagination, to the influence of the two World Wars on poetic expression, to experiments with language and image, to changing notions of the self, to representations of city (Paris) and country, and to the intensity of faith or doubt among different poets regarding the power of poetry to signify and represent the world. Readings will include poetry and poetic prose by Apollinaire, Breton, Eluard, Desnos, Ponge, Bonnefoy, Jaccottet, Jabes, Reda, and Gaspar. Attention will also be given to the poetry of women poets like Albiach, Zins, Chedid, Perrier, and Risset. In addition, readings of prose essays and art criticism of certain poets will be assigned. Conducted in French. Requirements: two hour exams and two 8-page papers. Prerequisite: French 109 or 110 or permission of the instructor. This course fulfills the requirement for the Senior Seminar.