Corneille in the shadow of Molière

Dominique Labbé (1)

1 PACTE - Pacte, Laboratoire de sciences sociales

Calculation of inter-textual distance. This euclidian metric allows unbiased classifications and the calibration of a distance scale for French texts. A large number of trials have validated this method. Applied to the works of Corneille and Molière, it reattributes to Corneille all the masterpieces in verse by Molière and two comedies in prose by the same: Dom Juan and l'Avare. Many stylistic and historic evidence corroborates this attribution. At least, we answer the main objections: possible "unconscious" imitation of Corneille by Molière, the influence of prosody on distances, the possible "quarrel" about l'Ecole des femmes.

Mots clés: Intertextual distance; Authorship attribution; Corneille; Molière; French theatre; France

Domaines: Science politique

Dominique Labbé. Corneille in the shadow of Molière. French Department Research Seminar, Apr 2004, Dublin, Ireland. ⟨halshs-00291041⟩