English 590/History 510/Humanities 530: Irish Culture
Professors Lisa Bitel (History) and Kathryn Conrad (English)
Spring 2000
11-12:20 TR, 3016 Learned
Office hours:
Prof. Bitel - Wescoe 2120 - T/W 1.30-3.30 and by appointment, 785-864-2311
Prof. Conrad - Wescoe 2035 - T/R 1:30-3 and by appointment, 785-864-2572
Course Description
This course explores enduring themes of Irish history, literature, and art from the Iron Age to the present day, including such concepts and topics as Celtic, Gaelic, and Irish identity; gender; the Famine; and nationalism. More specifically, the course focuses on several related questions: How are the myths and legends of Celtic heritage different from the reality of the Irish past? What is the relationship between myth and reality? How do versions of the Irish past affect Ireland in the present? By examining a variety of primary source readings (such as laws, literature, poetry, chronicles, plays), art and artifacts, film, and modern historical writing, we will try together to answer these questions.
Grades for the course will be based on participation, short assignments, writing (including one research paper) and exams (see below). No previous knowledge of Irish history or literature is expected or required.
Texts
In order to provide the widest selection of texts and topics possible, many of the required texts for the course were online at the course website; students are responsible for checking the online syllabus regularly for the most up-to-date information. A selection of online resources were available online and were be updated regularly. In addition, professors will maintain a discussion list on the internet where students and instructors can discuss topics related to the course.
These books are also available for purchase (but we will read only selections)
- J. Gantz, trans., Early Irish Myths and Sagas
- P. L. Henry, ed., Dánta Ban
- Liam DePaor, St. Patrick's World
- Liam Fay, Beyond Belief
- Fintan O'Toole, Lie of the Land
ALL READINGS ARE ON RESERVE AT WATSON LIBRARY.
Other Resources
Speakwrite, a do-it-yourself Irish language program, is available on cd-rom at the Ermal Garringer Resource Center; also check out the Irish language websites.
Students are encouraged to make use of at The Writers Roosts, which offer free writing assistance (drop-ins and appointments are both welcome). Check the Writing Center website for current locations and hours. For more information, call (785) 864-2399 or send an e-mail to writing@ku.edu.
Grades (consist of four components)
Attendance and participation in discussion. All readings to be completed by date listed on the syllabus (10%).
Exams: two in-class exams as listed on the syllabus (15% each) and a final examination (30%).
Research paper of 8-10 pages on a topic of your choosing related to the course (30%). You must use at least ONE primary source and ONE secondary source NOT assigned for class reading. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, and contain proper foot- or endnotes. Topic, bibliography, and paper outline are due as marked on syllabus.
Occasional short assignments due in class. Some of these will be web-based assignments. These assignments will not be graded, but failure to complete them will result in a lower grade for participation.
Lecture and Discussion Schedule
This schedule is very likely to be modified as the semester progresses. Students are responsible for checking online for the most up-to-date version of the syllabus.
I. Introduction:
Postcolonial Mother Ireland and her Celtic Roots
Jan. 18: Postcolonial Mother Ireland and her Celtic Roots
II. Celts
Jan. 20: Celtic migrations and (pre-)Celtic landscapes
Jan. 25: Celtic culture and mythologies
Jan. 27: Continue Celtic culture and mythologies
Readings:
- Kinsella, Táin, viii-xxvii, 1-50.
- EITHER Tochmarc Étaíne (Wooing of Étaín) in Gantz, Early Irish Myths and Sagas
- OR Cath Maige Tuired (Second Battle of Mag Tured)
- De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 15-49.
- Interview with Simon James
Assignment: For Feb. 1, pick one god or goddess from the literature and describe what characterizes them as such, what might their function be, etc.
Check out this week's map online
III. Kings and Saints
Feb. 1: Kings and kingdoms
Feb. 3: Conversion and monastic establishment
Readings:
St. Pátraic, Confessio, in DePaor, St. Patrick's World
Cogitsosus, Life of Brigit, in DePaor, St. Patrick's World--This text for students in this class only.
De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 50-73.
Web assignment:
Check out this week's map online
IV. Society and Culture
Feb. 8: Conversion and monastic establishment
Feb. 10: Society, family, and economy
Readings:
Kinsella, Táin, 51-142.
Tecosca, laws, triads, penitentials, selections (handout).
Web assignment:
Check out this week's map online
V. Literature of Retrospect
Feb. 15: Culture and learning
Feb. 17: Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle-raid of Cooley); Satire of the tradition
Readings:
Kinsella, Táin, 143-253
Scéla Muicce Meic Dathó, in Gantz, Early Irish Myths and Sagas
Web assignment:
Find an object produced in Ireland before 1000; download the image and identifying information, and bring to class.
Check out this week's map online
VI. Invasions
Feb. 22: More Táin & satire (Scéla Muicce Meic Dathó). Vikings to the Pale
Feb. 24: Tudors, Stewarts, Plantations to Cromwell. Guest lecture: Peter Mancall.
Readings:
De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 73-102.
Gerald of Wales, History and Topography of Ireland.
Web assignment:
Take a tour of medieval Dublin online
Check the maps for 1200, 1400, 1600.
[Recommended: Check out some sites you & your classmates used to find objects produced in Ireland before 1000:
Cavan County Museum
Digital Imaging Project
Archaeology Ireland magazine
Celtic Art and Cultures course (University of North Carolina)
Clothing of the Ancient Celts
The Hunt Museum, Limerick]
Feb. 29: FIRST EXAM
VI. Survival strategies
Th Mar. 2: Writing Center director Michelle Eodice. The Flight of the Earls to Cromwell.
T Mar. 7: class dismissed early; catch up on reading!
Th Mar. 9: Penal times to the Union, 1801. Guest lecture: Hodgie Bricke. Brian Merriman, The Midnight Court.
Readings:
De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 116-67.
Brian Merriman, Cúirt an Mheán Oíche (The Midnight Court), find out who Brian Merriman was in the introduction AND read at least two sections of the poem.
Web/library assignment:
Find one poem written in Ireland between 1200 and 1600; copy it, with identifying information; write a paragraph describing how the poem takes a "backward look" at an earlier Ireland; bring poem and paragraph to class for discussion.
Check the map for 1700 and 1800
VII. Rebellion and Famine
T Mar. 14: O'Connell and Catholic Renewal
Th Mar. 16: Famine
Readings:
De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 168-247.
Friel, Translations, in Modern Irish Drama.
Th Mar. 16: Famine
Readings:
Friel, Translations, in Modern Irish Drama.
Web assignment:
Choose one image from that sums up the Famine for you; download and bring to class for discussion.
Examine the population figures online; download and bring to class for discussion.
1843 Punch cartoon
Browse diaries and articles at "Irish Views of the Famine" and "English Views of the Famine"
Check the map
WEEK OF MARCH 20: SPRING BREAK
T Mar. 28: Visit to Spencer Research Library to view Irish collections. Meet in the lobby of the Spencer Library (behind Strong Hall); attendance WILL be taken.
VIII. Recovery, Renewal and Revolt
Th Mar. 30: Fenianism, Home Rule, and the Emerging Irish Revival
Readings:
De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 248-270.
Web assignment:
Matthew Arnold, from On Celtic Literature, online
"The Missing Link"/"The Gorilla's Dilemma," Punch, 1862, online
Recommended:
Folksongs (then and now), online
IX: Cultural Revolution, Emigration
T Apr. 4: Cultural Revolution: The Irish Revival, The National Theatre
Readings:
Lady Gregory, "Our Irish Theatre," in Modern Irish Drama, 378-9.
Yeats, Cathleen ni Houlihan, in Modern Irish Drama.
Yeats, poems:
"The Secret Rose," online
"The Attack on 'Playboy of the Western World" and "At the Abbey Theatre", online
Synge, Playboy of the Western World, in Modern Irish Drama.
Joseph Holloway, "Journal 1907," in Modern Irish Drama, 454-459.
Th Apr. 6: Emigration. Guest lecture: Kerby Miller. ALDERSON AUDITORIUM, Kansas Union.
DePaor, Peoples of Ireland, 271-293.
Th Apr. 6: PAPER TOPIC DUE
X: Revolution once again
T Apr. 11: Writers of the nationalist revolution
Readings:
Padraic Pearse, The Singer (play), online
Pearse, poems:
"Why do ye torture me?"
"I am Ireland"
"Renunciation"
"The Mother"
"The Fool"
"The Rebel"
"Christmas 1915"
Pearse, "Barbara" (short story)
Yeats, poems:
"Easter, 1916," "Sixteen Dead Men," and "The Rose Tree"
Th Apr. 13: The Easter Rising
Readings:
Make sure you're up to date on DePaor.
Proclamation of the Irish Republic
The Soldier's Song
Th Apr. 13: BIBLIOGRAPHY AND OUTLINE DUE
TAKE-HOME EXAM handed out.
XI: The Irish State
T Apr. 18: Anglo-Irish War & Civil War.
Readings:
Yeats, poems:
"Meditations on a Time of Civil War" and "Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen," online
"Remorse for Intemperate Speech" and "I am of Ireland", online
"The Great Day" and "Parnell", online
"In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markievicz"
O'Casey, Juno and the Paycock, in Modern Irish Drama, 204-254.
De Paor, Peoples of Ireland, 294-315
T Apr. 18: OPTIONAL ROUGH DRAFT DUE
TAKE-HOME EXAM due.
Th Apr. 20: Divided Island: the new Republic; Northern Ireland from Partition to the start of the "Troubles."
Readings:
Bunreacht na hEireann, online
John Darby, "Conflict in Northern Ireland: A Background Essay," online at CAIN
Web assignment:
Browse the CAIN website, especially "Key Issues." If the acronyms or terminology overwhelm you, the glossary and acronyms dictionary will help.
T Apr. 25: Shaping the new Republic: family, nation, and dissent. Guest lecture: Ted Wilson.
Web assignment:
Check the map
XII: Northern Ireland
Th Apr. 27: National identity and civil rights
Readings:
Chronology of events surrounding the Derry March (1968), online
Chronology of events surrounding 'Bloody Sunday' (1972), online
Web assignment:
(If you didn't do so last week.....:) Browse the CAIN website, especially "Key Issues," murals and photos; download one you would like to discuss and bring it to class.
Maps on the CAIN website
T May 2: The Peace Process
Readings :
Neil Jarman, "Painting Landscapes: the place of murals in the symbolic construction of urban space," online at CAIN
Web assignment:
Murals and photos, online on CAIN; download one you would like to discuss and bring it to class.
Some loyalist tunes: check out "The Ould Orange Flute" and "Portadown," online
Check out the website of the Northern Ireland Assembly, particularly the official report page (updated link)
Browse the photos of the marches on CAIN website.
XIII: The Backward Look: Conclusion and Review
Th May 4
Readings:
Liam Fay, "Last of the High Kings," in Beyond Belief, online
Fintan O'Toole, "Some Thoughts on the Map of Ireland," in Lie of the Land, online --These two texts for KU students enrolled in this class only.
Map from An Beal Bocht/The Poor Mouth, Sean O'Sullivan/Myles na gCopaleen, large file, online. (See "Lie of the Land for the reference to this text).
Seamus Heaney, poetry, online, esp. "Casualty"; note at the top of each poem page that there is a link to a recording of him reading the poem.
Th May 4: PAPER DUE
M May 8: Take home FINAL EXAM available online & in hardcopy outside Prof. Conrad's office (2035 Wescoe).
Th May 11: FINAL EXAM DUE by noon, 2120 Wescoe (Women's Studies/Prof. Bitel's office).
M May 22: Grades are in. If you would like your paper back, please contact us ASAP. Thank you and have a great summer.