French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Baril, Manuel d'initiation à l'ancien français (vol. 2)
Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Agnès Baril, Manuel d'initiation à l'ancien français - Volume 2, Ellipses, "Manuel d'ancien français" series, 08/10/2008, 348p.

ISBN-13 (EAN): 978-2-7298-3441-8

€39

Publisher's Description:

As the second volume of the Manuel d'initiation à l'ancien français, this book presents, in 8 advanced lessons, a synthesis of the knowledge required during undergraduate studies and necessary for mastering the Old French exam of the CAPES or Agrégation competitive examinations in Modern Literature.

Each lesson includes:
- a study text taken from a major medieval literary work;
- a translation accompanied by a commentary explaining difficult points of vocabulary, morphology, syntax, etc.;
- extremely detailed phonetic developments from Latin to Modern French for several words from the study text, followed by summary tables designed to facilitate memorization;
- a lesson on nominal or verbal morphology based on examples found in the study text;
- a study of syntax;
- vocabulary sheets tracing the semantic history of words specific to the language of the Middle Ages.

Each lesson is followed by a comprehensive set of exercises with an answer key.

Old French, the vernacular language spoken in northern France from the ninth to the fourteenth century, is essential for understanding the roots of modern French literature. This second volume of the Manuel d'initiation à l'ancien français is specifically tailored for advanced undergraduate students and candidates preparing for competitive French teaching exams, such as the CAPES and Agrégation in Modern Literature. By bridging the gap between medieval texts and modern linguistic analysis, Agnès Baril helps readers navigate the complex transition from Latin to medieval French, making it an indispensable tool for aspiring scholars.

Each of the eight lessons is structured around a central medieval text, allowing students to study linguistic concepts in their original literary context. The manual covers crucial areas of historical linguistics, including phonetic evolution from Latin, nominal and verbal morphology, and medieval syntax. Additionally, the vocabulary sheets trace the semantic shifts of medieval terms, helping readers understand how meanings changed over centuries. With detailed exercises and answer keys, this volume serves as a practical, self-contained guide for mastering the grammatical and phonetic challenges of medieval French texts.