For something different: introduction to French poetry to year 10. At the end of the lesson, they should have written their own French poem about automn, using bonjour...au revoir

1. Objectif: d écouvrir un poème sur l’automne.

2. Paul Verlaine peint par Gustave Courbet Paul-Marie Verlaine 30 March 1844–8 January 1896) was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He was elected France's "Prince of Poets" by his peers. His poetry was admired and recognized as ground-breaking, serving as a source of inspiration . He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry. Paul VERLAINE

3. Can you put the different parts of Verlaine’s life in the right order? Born in Metz, he began writing poetry at an early age. His first published collection was Poèmes Saturniens (1866) when he was 22.. Verlaine's last years saw his descent into drug addiction, alcoholism, and poverty. He lived in slums and public hospitals, and spent his days drinking absinthe in Paris cafes. Verlaine then meets the poet Rimbaud who will have a great impact on him. In July 1873 in a drunken, jealous rage, he fired two shots with a pistol at Rimbaud, wounding his left wrist, though not seriously injuring the poet. As an indirect result of this incident, Verlaine was arrested and imprisoned. Following his release from prison, Verlaine travelled to England, where he worked for some years as a teacher and produced another successful collection, Sagesse . He died in Paris at the age of 51 on 8 January 1896.

7. Chanson d'automne Poèmes saturniens Paul VERLAINE (1844-1896)

8. Les sanglots longs Des violons De l'automne

10. Blessent mon coeur D'une langueur Monotone.

13. Tout suffocant Et blême, quand Sonne l'heure,

15. Je me souviens Des jours anciens Et je pleure

17. Et je m'en vais Au vent mauvais Qui m'emporte

19. Deçà, delà, Pareil à la Feuille morte.

21. Qu’est-ce que ce po ème raconte sur l’automne ? L’AUTOMNE