Approaches to Teaching Hugo's Les Misérables

The greatest work of one of France's greatest writers, Victor Hugo's Les Mis rables has captivated readers for a century and a half with its memorable characters, its indictment of injustice, its concern for those suffering in misery, and its unapologetic embrace of revolutionary ideals. The novel's length, multiple narratives, and encyclopedic digressiveness make it a pleasure to read but a challenge to teach, and this volume is designed to address the needs of instructors in a variety of courses that include the novel in excerpts or as a whole.

Part 1 of the volume, "Materials," provides guidance on editions in French and in English translation, biographies, criticism, and maps. Part 2, "Approaches," contains essays that discuss the novel's conceptions of mis re, sexuality, and the politics of the time and that demonstrate techniques for teaching context including the book's literary market, its adaptations, its place in popular culture, and its relation to other novels of its time.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1603293361
• ISBN13: 9781603293365
• Release Date: August 2018
• Publisher: Modern Language Association of America
• Length: 236 Pages
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher