Study of the birth of a specific and distinct style of writing in the poetry and novels of French Canada through representative works. Examine its evolution from the rebellion of 1837 to the end of the 19th century as well as its qualities and shortcomings. Examine the predominant influence of the socio-cultural context, the struggle between the Tories and the "ultramontains," the thesis of compensating messianism, censorship and self-censorship.