Brain Pain discussion

This is our planned reading and discussion schedule for François Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel.

Gargantua and Pantagruel consists of five separate books written between 1532 and his death in 1564. We will be reading and discussing the first two books over a four-week period. If there is interest to continue on and read the remaining three books, we can do that. We will also read the “Pantagruelian Prognostication” and “Almanacs” as listed below. The book titles and page numbers shown are from the Penguin Classics edition of 2006, translated by M.A. Screech. For other editions, the page numbers will vary and the sections may be presented in a different order. If you have questions about your edition, please ask about it over on the “Questions…” thread.


Week One – February 4, 2013

Pantagruel - Prologue and Chapter 1 – 11, pp. 1 – 85


Week Two – February 11, 2013

Pantagruel - Chapter 12 – 23, pp. 86 – 164
Pantagrueline Prognostication for 1535 - pp. 165 – 185
Prefaces to Almanacs for 1533 and 1535 - pp. 186 – 194

(Note: If your edition does not include the Prognostications and Prefaces, don’ worry. Our discussion will be focused on the main books.)


Week Three – February 18, 2013

Gargantua – Prologue and Chapter 1 – 24, pp. 195 – 292


Week Four – February 25, 2013

Gargantua – Chapter 25 – 56, pp. 292 – 379
Almanac for 1536 – pp. 381 - 387
Conclusions and the book as a whole.