Guy de Maupassant’s Une Vie
Target Audience
AS students of French with an interest in literature.
Key concepts
French Realism; pessimism and irony; the novel; character analysis; the human condition.
The Activity
Do you think Jeanne, the protagonist of Une Vie, is a realist character? In which way does
she reflect the social reality of her own time? And to what extent is she a symbol of the
human condition?
Background Knowledge
You will need to read Une Vie, preferably in French. If you find this too difficult, you can read
all or part of the book in English (for instance, you might read one chapter in translation, and
then try to read the same chapter in the original). But if you are brave enough to read the
book in French, do not let yourself be overwhelmed by the words you do not understand (in
descriptive passages, for example). Always try and remain focused on the story. What is
essential is that while reading the novel, you concentrate on the way in which Maupassant
deals with his characters, particularly with Jeanne.
Resources
Reading biographical notes about Maupassant might enable you to understand the context of
his work. A good online biography of Maupassant can be found at:
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/maupassa.htm
Another very useful website, with pictures related to Maupassant’s work and audiobooks of
some his stories (in French): http://www.guydemaupassant.fr/maupassant.htm
Outcomes
Most students find it motivating to have an outcome in mind. Discuss with your French
teacher the outcome that will be the most motivating for you. Would it be a presentation, a
report, an essay, a webpage or a discussion? What audience would it be for? This activity
should be done individually but it would be a good idea to share and compare your findings
with those of other students.
Helpful hints
You may find it helpful to watch the filmic adaptation of Une Vie (Alexandre Astruc, 1958),
and of other works by Maupassant: Une partie de campagne, Jean Renoir (1936);
Stagecoach, John Ford (1939); Bel-Ami, Albert Lewin (1947); Le Plaisir, Max Ophüls (1952).
Going Further
- Which general definition of literary realism would you draw from Une Vie?
- At the end of Une Vie, Rosalie says: « Life, after all, is not as good or as bad as we
believe it to be. » Do you think a novel’s function is to present us with the crude facts of
life? Or should escapism be a novel’s true purpose?
- You may also be interested in reading other stories by Maupassant (e.g., Partie de
campagne) and by his mentor Gustave Flaubert (Un Coeur simple).