Topics in Irish Literature
Class Information
Instructor: Dobbins, Gregory
CRN: 53242
Time: TR 12:10-1:30
GE Areas: World Cultures Writing Experience
Description
"Modern Irish Literature and the Supernatural"
Through the historical process by which Ireland evolved from its status as an underdeveloped colonial region of a larger imperial power to a sovereign, independent nation of its own, literature played a crucial role in that political and social transformation.The evidence of a strong and thriving literary tradition served as evidence of Ireland's distinct qualities, and presented the case that it could become a modern nation-state just like any other. Yet despite the part a continuing literary tradition played in a long term process of modernization, a strong current focused on various aspects of the supernatural persists within Irish literature even to the present day. While Ireland became a modern nation, non-modern entities like ghosts, the undead, ancient mythological beings, and other magical creatures continued to appear in Irish literature even up to the present day. This course will track the the trajectory of the supernatural in Irish writing from the 19th century up to the present day.
I have not yet selected the particular texts which will make up the syllabus for this course (partially because the determination whether Fall 2020 will take place in a traditional physical setting or in online circumstances like Spring 2020; that determination will play a large role in the section of texts). Watch this text in the coming weeks as details become clearer and specific texts are added to this description.
Grading
Two essays, two shorter writing assignments, participation, take-home final exam.