Contemporary Irish Literature

The value that storytelling has played and continues to play in Irish life cannot be underestimated. Perhaps more than any other English speaking nation, the Irish have an affinity with and aptitude for narrative that places story at the core of their collective consciousness. Ireland has long been a country of stories, from mythical tales of ancient warrior tribes and their epic quests and battles to contemporary narratives of ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances. The rugged physical landscape and meandering city streets have inspired beautiful, beguiling poetry, while the nation's complex and checkered sociopolitical history has evoked an artistic response from writers whose scope is second only to their mastery of craft. That said, many of Ireland's most well-known and accomplished writers have produced their best work while in self-imposed exile. This peculiar dichotomy is one of the reasons why a close engagement with Irish literature perpetuates one of the fundamental characteristics of true art: more questions are asked than answered. Onsite lectures along with exhibitions and museum study excursions will make cultural Dublin a fundamental resource for learning.

To this end, this course examines the works of some of the major Irish authors writing in English from the end of the 19th century up to the present day. You will be introduced to major topics and theoretical approaches relevant to your writing and will be guided in the critical reading of primary sources. In addition, you will practice how to interpret literary texts from different genres throughout the course. Similarly, the text will help illuminate major areas of Irish culture and how they have changed over the last century. Every session is situated in its historical context and cross-referenced to the author or the literary trend that the text exemplifies.

Beyond developing reading comprehension, you will actively engage with the text and understand the context in which it was written, think critically about its themes and greater message, and analyze the connections to the cultural reality accompanying your study abroad experience. The course also emphasizes the development of analytical and comprehension strategies. You will learn terminology and academic language in order to discuss content, structure, theme, character development and figurative language. Throughout the course, you will further your skills in the reading of original texts.