English 125-21 - Summer Sessions II, 2014

Topics in Irish Literature

Class Information

Instructor: Dobbins, Gregory
CRN: 73959
Time: TWR 4:10-5:50
Location: 1342 Storer

Description

Since the late 1990s, Ireland underwent political, economic, social, and cultural changes that were some of the most significant in its history, with the result that it became a completely different type of country than it had been before. In the Republic of Ireland, the emergence of the so-called Celtic Tiger economy brought an unprecedented amount of wealth into Irish society, and changed every aspect of life in Ireland; the eventual collapse of the economy in recent times has reasserted some of the older experiences of poverty and deprivation in Ireland. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, the twenty year long political and sectarian violence of "the Troubles" gave way to peace and a new form of government that sought to bring Catholics and Protestants together in a democratic, non-violent manner. Not surprisingly, all of these changes made a profound impact upon Irish society. This course will strive to assess these changes and what effect the have had upon the Irish novel.

Grading

Mandatory Attendance, productive discussion, and a choice between two shorter essays or one longer essay.

Texts

Reading in the Dark, Seamus Deane
Eureka Street, Robert Mcliam Wilson
The Parts, Keith Ridgway
Notes from a Coma, Mike McCormack
The Gathering, Anne Enright
Skippy Dies, Paul Murray