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Table of Contents
Gabrielle Roy was a famous French Canadian author. She was known for writing semi-autobiographical stories which helped illustrate the real-life struggles of the poor.
See the fact file below for more information on the Gabrielle Roy or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Gabrielle Roy worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
BACKGROUND
- Gabrielle’s novels helped establish classic francophone literature in Canada.
- Gabrielle Roy was the first female in Canada to win the prestigious Prix Femina literary award for her novel called “Bonheur d’occasion” (1947).
EARLY LIFE
- Gabrielle Roy was born on March 22, 1909, in a French-speaking town called St. Boniface (now a part of Winnipeg), Manitoba.
- Gabrielle was the youngest of eleven children.
- As a child, Gabrielle was often sick but very successful in school.
- At age 20 (1929), Gabrielle completed her teaching degree at the Winnipeg Normal Institute. She quickly began teaching in small communities across Manitoba.
- Gabrielle Roy was offered a teaching position at the Académie Provencher in St. Boniface (1930).
- While working at the Académie Provencher, Gabrielle became a member of a theatre group which worked to promote French-Manitoban productions.
- In 1937 Gabrielle moved to Europe to study drama. At the outbreak of WWII in 1939, Gabrielle was forced to return to Canada.
- Gabrielle returned to Canada in 1939 relocating in the city of Montreal, Quebec.
- After moving to Montreal Gabrielle decided to devote her time to writing.
- Gabrielle began working as a freelance journalist for two publishers:
- La Revue Moderne and Le Bulletin des agriculteurs.
BONHEUR D’OCCASION
- While living in Montreal Gabrielle was shocked by the large amount of poverty in a neighborhood called Saint-Henri.
- The high levels of poverty in Saint-Henri inspired Gabrielle to write what has become known as her most popular novel “Bonheur d’occasion” (1945).
- The name “Bonheur d’occasion” translates to “The Tin Flute” in English.
- The story follows an impoverished family living in Montreal during WWII.
- The story caused Quebecers to address poverty concerns in the large city of Montreal.
- “Bonheur d’occasion” was a large success. It won the French literary award called the Prix Femina in 1947 and was published in over a dozen different languages.
- In 1947, “Bonheur d’occasion” won the Governor General’s Award for fiction and the Royal Society of Canada’s Lorne Pierce Medal.
- A film adaptation of “Bonheur d’occasion” was made in 1983 and redone in 2012.
WRITING CAREER
- In 1947, Gabrielle married a man named Marcel Carbotte. Together the couple moved to France where they lived for the next three years.
- While living in France Gabrielle wrote her second novel called “La Petite Poule d’Eau” (1950).
- This novel was inspired by her time growing up in Manitoba. The story follows a family living on an isolated farm in a small town in Manitoba.
- After returning to Canada in 1950 Gabrielle and her husband moved to Quebec City, the capital city in the province of Quebec.
- There Gabrielle continued to write more stories. Some of those stories included; “Alexandre Chenevert” (1954), “Rue Deschambault” (1955), “La montagne secrète” (1961), “La route d’Altamont” (1966), and “La rivière sans repos” (1970).
- Gabrielle and her husband purchased a cottage in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Charlevoix County. It is there that Gabrielle wrote the majority of her novels.
- In “La montagne secrète”, Gabrielle told the story of a First Nation artist who was split between two different worlds, Canada and Paris.
- Gabrielle’s novel “Rue Deschambault” tells the story which closely resembles her own life growing up in St Boniface.
- “Rue Deschambault” was translated into English and is called “Streets of Riches”.
LATER LIFE & LEGACY
- Gabrielle’s novel “Rue Deschambault” won the Governor-General’s Award in 1957.
- In 1968, Gabrielle was presented the Canada Council Medal as well as an honorary degree from Université Laval.
- Gabrielle was awarded the Prix David in 1971.
- In 1984 Gabrielle wrote an autobiographical book about her life growing up in St. Boniface. The book is called “La détresse et l’enchantement”.
- Gabrielle’s novels pushed the boundaries of social normalities at the time and caused readers to question themselves and the world around them.
- On July 13, 1983, Gabrielle passed away as a result of a heart attack. She was 74 years old at the time of her death.
- The National Archive of Canada has retained copies of all of Gabrielle’s work. Their collection contains copies of her works written from 1940–1983.
- Gabrielle Roy’s stories continue to be used as teaching tools at schools across Canada.
- Gabrielle’s ability to portray the real-life struggles across society in an honest and thoughtful way is why she is regarded as one of the most influential writers and important figures in francophone literature.
Gabrielle Roy Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Gabrielle Roy across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Gabrielle Roy worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Gabrielle Roy who was a famous French Canadian author. She was known for writing semi-autobiographical stories which helped illustrate the real-life struggles of the poor.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Gabrielle Roy Facts
- Worthy Quotes
- Boniface Crossword
- Written Timeline
- Literary Icon
- Bonheur Wordsearch
- Famous Novels
- Book Cover Design
- Five Words
- Word Scramble
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Use With Any Curriculum
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