The Art of Elegance: How Classicism Defined French Literary Style
When Writing Had to Be as Graceful as a Courtly Bow
Imagine living in 17th-century France. The wigs are tall, the etiquette is stricter than a royal decree, and literature? It must be elegant, refined, and perfectly balanced—like a Versailles fountain. Welcome to the age of Classicism, where French writers followed rules more strictly than a chef guarding the secret to a perfect soufflé.
While Romanticism would later bring in the emotional drama and Realism would turn to the gritty details of life, Classicism was all about order, harmony, and the idea that literature should be as polished as a mirror in Louis XIV’s palace. Let’s take a closer look at how this style shaped French literature—and why Molière, Racine, and Corneille would have been terrible reality TV writers.
What Is Classicism, Anyway?
Classicism (or le classicisme, if you want to sound très sophisticated) was the dominant literary movement in 17th-century France. Inspired by ancient Greek and Roman ideals, it emphasized clarity, logic, structure, and decorum. Writers of this period didn’t just throw words on a page; they crafted their works like sculptors chiseling away at a block of marble.
To give you an idea of how strict things were, the French Academy (which still exists, by the way) acted like the literary police, making sure the French language and its literature remained “pure.” Basically, Classicism was the Marie Kondo of literary movements—if it wasn’t orderly and refined, it had to go.
The Three Commandments of Classicism (a.k.a. The Three Unities)
Classic French literature followed three strict rules, particularly in drama:
- Unity of Time – The story must take place in one day. (No sprawling multi-generational epics here!)
- Unity of Place – Everything must happen in one location. (Good luck staging an action-packed adventure.)
- Unity of Action – No subplots. Just one central conflict, please. (Side quests? Not in this literary universe.)
Basically, if Shakespeare had been writing under these rules, Hamlet would have been set in a single castle room over the course of 24 hours. And instead of multiple deaths, Claudius would just get a strongly worded letter.
The Titans of Classicism: Who Were the Big Names?
1. Pierre Corneille (The Rule-Breaker Who Almost Got Canceled)
Corneille’s Le Cid (1637) was a smash hit with audiences, but the literary elite hated it because it didn’t follow the unities strictly enough. The French Academy scolded him for being too creative (gasp!), but his play was so popular that even strict Classicism couldn’t erase his influence.
2. Jean Racine (Tragedy’s Perfectionist)
If Corneille was the rebel, Racine was the model student. His tragedies (Phèdre, Andromaque) followed the classical rules with mathematical precision. He mastered poetic verse and character psychology so well that even today, reading his plays feels like watching an intense psychological drama unfold—except with way more rhyming.
3. Molière (Comedy’s Genius Who Poked Fun at Everyone)
Molière’s comedies (Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope) were wildly popular because he used Classicism’s love for structure to create hilariously sharp social critiques. He took aim at hypocrisy, arrogance, and pretentiousness—so, basically, he would have thrived on Twitter.
Why Classicism Still Matters (Even If You Prefer Chaos)
Even though Classicism might seem like the overly strict teacher of literary movements, its influence is everywhere:
- French language? Classicism helped standardize it.
- Theater structure? Modern plays still use its focus on coherent storytelling.
- Literature today? We still love polished dialogue and structured narratives.
Sure, today’s writers are free to break the rules, but Classicism laid the foundation for the discipline of writing. Think of it as the blueprint for all storytelling that followed—just with fewer dragons and way more etiquette.
Would Classicism have survived in today’s world of sprawling fantasy epics and multiverse storylines? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing’s for sure—if Classicists were alive today, they’d probably be critiquing Netflix shows for lack of unity.
References & Further Reading
- Bolgar, R. R. The Classical Heritage and Its Beneficiaries. Cambridge University Press, 1954.
- Lyons, John. French Literature: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2010.
- Howarth, William. Classicism and Romanticism in French Literature. Harvard University Press, 1955.
