17th Century Classical Age (Corneille, Molière, Racine, Lafayette)

1. The concept of "bienséance" (propriety) was central to classical aesthetics. How does each writer work within or against these constraints?

2. Compare how Corneille and Racine handle the conflict between passion and duty. What does this reveal about changing social values?

3. Molière claimed to "correct morals through laughter." Do his comedies achieve this goal, or do they serve other purposes?

4. Madame de Lafayette is credited with inventing the psychological novel. What techniques does she pioneer, and how do they influence later writers?

5. How do these writers represent royal power? What can they say directly, and what must they convey through subtext?