L’usage non critique des clichés chez Annie Ernaux

Abstract

Clichés abound in the works of Annie Ernaux, always consciously and often critically used. However, their use cannot be entirely critical, and in the case of Annie Ernaux several factors attenuate this criticism, what we will aim to examine. At first, we will seek to define the critical or descriptive character of the clichés of Annie Ernaux, or their place between these two extremities, the degree of criticism they contain. Then we will examine the clichés in the reflection of all this, looking for the possible differences linked to this character: we will try to find the functions and intentions linked to this descriptive use. In this search, we will concentrate mainly on the sociological intentions, which are of paramount importance in the works of Annie Ernaux.