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

The basic educational objectives of the course are: 1. introducing students to some of the major figures of the Irish literary tradition (including Yeats, Joyce, Bowen, Heaney, Muldoon, Boland); 2. placing the texts under analysis within their broader historical and cultural context, focusing in particular on how literary discourse engages with the complex events that have shaped Ireland's relationship with the United Kingdom (the Celtic Revival, Irish Modernism, the experience of exile, the postcolonial dimension of Irish literature, women's writing, the Troubles, and contemporary Ireland); 3. presenting, in written or multimedia form, the essential aspects of a text and author not covered in the course readings. A more advanced objective is the development of the ability to critically analyze and synthesize the proposed texts, with particular attention to their linguistic dimension.

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 with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Students can choose between two types 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 in English 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 in English 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 (in English) must be handed in at least one week before the oral exam.
For the Oral exam in English 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 and gender dynamics, 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; Eavan Boland

In order to achieve the knowledge, skills, and abilities corresponding to the basic level, the student is required to demonstrate:
(KNOWLEDGE) Knowledge of the key aspects of Irish literary discourse and its most significant figures; knowledge of the key historical events relevant to the reading and interpreting of Irish writing;
(SKILLS) The ability to produce a short essay/presentation that explores specific aspects of the topics covered in class; the ability to conduct basic bibliographic research;
(TRANSVERSAL SKILLS) The ability to clearly and effectively present knowledge, information, and opinions on the topics covered, using appropriate language and terminology and developing a cogent line of argument.
To achieve an advanced level, the student must demonstrate the ability to: analyze the assigned texts with particular attention to their linguistic dimension; read the texts from a critical perspective, identifying their peculiarities and points of connection.