Home › Explained sheets › History, geography and culture
French heritage: iconic artists among authors (1/3)
This sheet presents French artists. It deals in particular with French authors of the 17th century.
Key points of the sheet
- Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) is a poet and fable writer. He is known for his fables. They are short stories, often in verse, with a moral.
- The fables show animals or humans. They entertain, teach and criticise the society of the time. They are taught at school.
- Among his most famous fables are Le Corbeau et le Renard and La Cigale et la Fourmi.
- Le Loup et l'Agneau and Le Lièvre et la Tortue are also among his most famous fables.
- Molière (1622-1673) is an actor, author and theatre director. He is a major figure of French classical theatre. He made the comedy of manners popular.
- His theatre denounces hypocrisy, fanaticism and also the medicine of his time. His influence remains central in the French language and culture.
- Among his most famous plays are Le Malade imaginaire and Tartuffe.
- L'Avare and l'École des Femmes are also among his most famous plays.
Words to know
- fables
- They are short stories, often in verse, with animals or humans and a moral.
- moral (morale)
- La Fontaine's fables pass on a moral.
- comedy of manners (comédie de mœurs)
- It is a theatre that criticises society and human faults through laughter.
- French classical theatre (théâtre classique français)
- Molière is one of its major figures.
Test yourself: 3 questions
In which century did Jean de La Fontaine live?
In French, the language of the exam: À quel siècle vivait Jean de La Fontaine ?
Jean de La Fontaine is a poet and fable writer of the 17th century (1621-1695).
What do La Fontaine's fables pass on?
In French, the language of the exam: Que transmettent les fables de La Fontaine ?
The fables are short stories that pass on a moral.
Which play is by Molière?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle pièce de théâtre est de Molière ?
Le Malade imaginaire is one of Molière's most famous plays.
You have read the sheet. See where you stand with 40 questions like the real exam.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions)Free mock exam · Exam Pass €19 incl. VAT, paid once, no subscription
Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
More in this topic (Culture)
- French heritage: iconic artists among authors (2/3)
- French heritage: iconic artists among authors (3/3)
- French heritage: iconic artists among painters
Source
Sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (1/3)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.