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Lectures will be taking place on
- Tuesdays
- LT15 (13.15-14.00) &
- Wednesdays - LO25 (12.15-13.00);
- Seminars
will be convened on
- Wednesdays - LO25 (13.15-14.00)
Aims of the course
The aim of this
module is to provide a general survey of the development of the Irish language
literary tradition since the very beginnings by focusing on key elements,
literary schools and genres up to the present day; to cultivate a sound understanding
of the origins and development of the Early, Medieval and Modern Irish literary
heritage; to encourage an understanding of the context and nature of Irish
literature and of the influences that shape it.
Content
The module begins with the coming of Saint Patrick in the 5th century,
traces the development of the Irish language literary tradition through the
centuries and ends with the 20th century Irish language literary productions.
Week 1: Introduction: Three periods of Irish medieval
literary tradition
Week 2: Encounters of saints with heroes: Lives of
Patrick, Columba and Brigid in the context of early Irish literature Week
3: The Ulster cycle of tales: a window on the Iron Age?
Week 4: Early Irish native literary tradition:
Frameworks and methods of study Week
5: Middle Irish satirical wiritngs: Irish satire Vision of
Meic Con Glinne (Aislinge Meic Con Glinne) as a precursor of
Rablesque literature
Week 6: Middle Irish romances & Fenian
lays: The Colloquy of the Ancients (Accalamh na Senorach) and
Duanaire Finn
Week 7: The penetration of saga material
into the folklore tradition: Manus ODonnells Life of Columcille
(Beatha Coluim Cille) as a repository of Irish folklore
Week 8: Irish historical and pseudo-historical
writings: From The Book of Invasions (Lebor Gabala) to The Elements
of the History of Ireland (Foras Feasa ar ireann)
Week 9: The Irish lords on the continent:
The Flight of the Earls by Tadhg Cianin and The Life of Red Hugh
ODonnell
Week 10: The decline of the bardic tradition:
Compositions of D. Bruadair, A. Rathaille, E. Ruadh Silleabhin,
and B. Merriman in the context of the eighteenth century Ireland.
Week 11: Late nineteenth century Irish
literary revival: Writings of W. B. Yeats, D. Hyde and P. Pearse Week
12: Twentieth century Irish literature: Flann OBriens The Hard
Life (An Beal Bocht) as an exemplary fiction
Teaching methods
Lectures
will introduce the main social and historical events that have affected the
formation of the Irish literary tradition since the coming of St. Patrick
at the start of the 5th century. Historical documents and literary productions
will be introduced and analysed, and the implications of factors such as
politics, economics, religion, and also relevant continental and insular
literary context will be discussed.
Seminars
will provide individual students with an opportunity to research and discuss
a topic in more detail, to generate
their own ideas through the analysis of concepts and methodologicaal frameworks
introduced during the course of the lectures.
The students
will be expected to engage in discussion about the issues relevant to the
Irish language literary heritage in order to exercise
independent judgement within the broad range of opinions present. Students
will be directed to read core and secondary literature relevant to the topics
covered, and will be directed to make significant use of relevant Internet
publications.
Students
will be expected to work independently and in groups.
Students
will access online materials as an optional requirement of the module.
This module is web dependent.
The students will be required to use WebCT resource.
This module introduces students to the main social, political, historical and sociolinguistic forces that have affected the development of the Irish literary tradition since its beginnings in the 5th century. The module is delivered through the medium of English.
Assessment
Coursework 1: Essay (30%), week 4
This assignment will assess module learning outcomes K1-3, I1-3, P1-4, T1-4.
Coursework 2: Seminar presentation (15%), from week 2 onwards
This assignment gives students an opportunity to prepare a presentation on a relevant topic to generate discussion and get peer assessment and comment. It will assess module learning outcomes K1-3, I1-3, P1-4, T1-4.
Coursework 3: Seminar participation (5%), continuous
This assignment will assess module learning outcomes: K1-3, I1-3, P4, T1-3.
Examination: (50%)
A 2-hour paper in two sections. Sections One will be compulsory and Section Two will contain an element of choice. The examination will assess learning outcomes K1-2, I1-2, P1, P3, T1, T5
Give the distribution of marks between coursework and examination
50 % Coursework 50 % Examination