Edward G. Ouellette

Statement for Continued Scholarly Development

In choosing to become a professor I am seeking to accomplish much more than simply teaching classes and grading exams. For me, being a professor also means carrying out research, searching to advance and share the knowledge of my chosen field, becoming an expert recognized by my peers for the contributions made to our profession. In pursuit of this goal I am preparing an aggressive plan for continued scholarly development, working on critical editions of several medieval works, translations (both in French and English), student guides, and web based/multimedia course and reference sites.

My principal goal is to revise my dissertation with a view toward publication as a manuscript, amplifying my analysis of the question of genre as it applies to medieval hagiographical literature and culture. I am also working on several other projects which originate with my research and which are presently in various stages of completion. Among them are new, critical editions of my dissertation’s source material, and translations of the same to include complete glossaries and indices to the major characters and themes.

Another project in the preliminary stages concerns the chansons de geste. While many students are familiar with La Chanson de Roland, it is but one of many epics and though it is considered as the most well known, it is generally not seen as typical of the genre. Many of the chansons are concerned with local matters or the fantastic and have not been adequately studied in detail. I plan to take each of the major cycles in turn (Le Cycle du Roi, Le cycle de Guillaume d’Orange, Le Cycle de Doon de Mayence and Le Cycle de la Croisade), editing and translating their individual chansons and providing each with a comprehensive study guide covering the central motifs such as the role of the king, the increased incorporation of the merveilleux into the stories, and complete character studies for each chanson. In addition, I am also planning a reference book on the Chanson de Geste in which I treat its origins, transmission, structure, performance and influence on the culture of its day.

I would like to point out that I do not plan to limit my scholarly development to medieval works. I am also very interested in Balzac’s La Comédie humaine and would like to explore the text in greater detail. In particular, I am interested in the role the city of Paris plays in the work, for while much has been written about the major characters and themes, the town itself is often overlooked despite its role in shaping nineteenth-century society.

Another area that has always fascinated me is myth, and its handling by modern playwrights. The mythe littéraire as a reflection of human action is an important tool and the reworkings of classical stories to reflect or comment upon current social or political situations warrants further exploration and provides a rich field of study.

With the Internet and computer technology becoming an increasingly important facet of our everyday and academic lives, I am actively pursuing how to best incorporate these new forms of potential into classroom instruction. In addition to the Internet’s use as a powerful research tool it readily lends itself to the dissemination of material from the instructor, allowing him/her to keep the students abreast of any changes in the syllabus or to make them aware of other events that might be of interest to them. These forms also aid in lesson planning and provide the possibility of giving exercises to the students that do not rely on more traditional forms. Students can now be tasked with searching for specific information in the target country and exploring how world events are viewed outside the United States. Computers also allow for the creation of electronic texts, making full use of hypertext, on-line dictionaries, reference works and study guides. Having this material readily at hand should greatly aide the student’s comprehension and appreciation of the text and lead to new areas of research.

Much work has been done in the field of French literature, but much work still remains. New editions of some of the lesser-known works of the Middle Ages, the role of the book in French culture, continued research of paleography and its migration to the Internet are just a few of the areas that I personally feel need to be developed. As a new professor, I am looking forward to playing an active role in this development and I hope to have a positive effect on my students.