Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to Irish literature

Declan Kiberd, Inventing Ireland, Vintage 1996; Terence Brown, The Literature of Ireland: Culture and Criticism, Cambridge UP, 2010; Eugenio F. Biagini & Mary E. Daly (eds), The Cambridge Social History of Modern Ireland, C.U.P. 2017; Alvin Jackson(ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Modern Irish History, O.U.P. 2014

This is a survey course designed to introduce some of Ireland’s major authors (including Yeats, Joyce, Bowen, Heaney, Muldoon, Boland) and discuss their work in its broader cultural context. Close attention will be paid to the ways in which Irish literary works respond to the pressures of Irish history and politics, focusing on themes such as the Irish literary revival, Irish Modernism, exile and the Irish diaspora, the postcolonial dimension of Irish literature, women writing, the Troubles, and contemporary Ireland.

B2 level of English

Lectures and in-class readings of primary texts

Students can choose between two modalities of assessment:
A. in-class activities (50%) + oral exam (50%)
In-class activities comprise
- assignments to be carried on individually or in groups;
- reading list project: short group presentations of texts not covered in class.
In-class activities will be evaluated on the basis of clarity, coherence and precision, both in written and oral production.
For the Oral exam students are asked to choose 2 texts or groups of texts from the reading list below.

B: final essay (50%) + oral exam (50%).
Essay topics must be agreed on with the instructor and papers must be handed in at least one week before the oral exam.
For the Oral exam students are asked to choose 3 texts or groups of texts from the reading list below.

For both A and B the oral exam (approx. 20 minutes) will assess:
- the knowledge of the texts/topics/authors covered in class;
- the knowledge of the cultural contexts of the primary texts;
- the ability to use the appropriate lexicon in English to communicate – clearly and effectively – knowledge, information and opinions;
- the degree of coherence, accuracy and relevance of the student's answers.

Grading criteria:
27-30: firm grasp of the topics dealt with; excellent analytical and argumentative skills; personal and critical approach
30 cum Laude: personal and critical approach; independent work on specific topics not included in the syllabus
23-26: mostly mnemonic/mechanical approach to the topics dealt with; satisfactory analytical and argumentative skills
18-22: basic knowledge of the topics dealt with; basic argumentative and analytical skills

READING LIST
J. Swift, «A Modest Proposal»
M. Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent
J. S. Le Fanu, Carmilla
B. Stoker, Dracula
G. B. Shaw, John Bull’s Other Island
J. M. Synge, The Playboy of the Western World
W. B. Yeats, «The Lake Isle of Innisfree»; «Easter 1916»; «The Second Coming»
J. Joyce, «Eveline»; «Ivy Day in the Committee Room»; «The Dead»
R. Doyle, A Star Named Henry
F. O’Connor, «Guests of the Nation»
E. Bowen, «Sunday Afternoon»; «Hand in Glove»
B. Friel, Translations
J. O’Connor, Star of the Sea
W. Trevor, Felicia’s Journey
R. Gilligan, The Butchers
Seamus Heaney, «The Grauballe Man», «Punishment»; Paul Muldoon, «Meet the British»; «The Grand Conversation»; Eavan Boland, «And Soul»; «The Lost Land»; «Domestic Violence»

Close attention will be paid to the ways in which Irish literary works respond to the pressures of Irish history and politics, focusing on themes such as the Irish literary revival, Irish Modernism, exile and the Irish diaspora, the post-colonial dimension of Irish literature, women writing, the Troubles, and contemporary Ireland. Students will read and critically analyze the work of major figures, including Jonathan Swift, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Frank O'Connor, Elizabeth Bowen, Seamus Heaney.

(KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)
- knowledge of the most important developments in the Irish literary tradition
- knowledge of the key historical events relevant to the reading and interpreting of Irish writing
- critical understanding of the texts studied, with specific reference to their linguistic component.
(APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)
- Ability to grasp and understand the connections between texts and contexts (historical, geographical, political), using the critical and methodological tools appropriate to the analysis of the texts considered.
- Ability to use the appropriate lexicon in English to communicate - clearly and effectively - knowledge, information and opinions related to the topics dealt with.
- Capacity to integrate and synthesize different kinds of material in a written/oral presentation; develop a cogent line of argument