French Canadian Folktales

Abstract

Study something you care about, learn everything you can, and do your best work. Whether your passion is in mathematics, dance, or architecture, I’ve always been a firm believer that choosing to study something you love will make your university days immeasurably more fulfilling. My thesis titled “French Canadian Folktales” is a testament to this philosophy, as it is a marriage of the invaluable passions I’ve accrued during my time as a student: printmaking and French. My goal for this thesis was to create a highly collaborative experience that incorporates these two passions in a way that showcases both my translation and my studio time. Therefore, the following is the result of two semesters’ work crafting print illustrations under my thesis advisor, Professor Benjamin Gross. The translations were completed over three years with Professor Elizabeth Blood, alongside nine students of French: Kristen Burgess, Bayron Contreras, Patrick Delva, Sage Grant, Samantha Gurney, Raymond Harris, Rachael Kuper, Anna Snyder, and myself. The result is a collection of fifteen folktales from 19th century Québécois writers that undergraduate students and faculty have translated from French into English. All folktales have been assembled into a book and accompanied by my original prints. Through this project, may you not only find these stories amusing but also be able to experience the culture and literature of folktales from French-speaking Québec. Bonne lecture!