Literature 272 - The Irish Renaissance

Institution:

Bard College

Subject:

Description:

ICS The first few decades of the 20th century saw an effort by the Abbey Theatre's founders to nourish a specifically Irish imagination. The revival exploited three sources: the mythical Ireland of Celtic legend; western Ireland's poetry and story; and a political history of invasion, oppression, faction, and heroic gestures accompanied by a mood of tragic failure. The course begins with a brief history of Ireland, concentrating on the late 17th century and the battles of Boyne and Aughrim, the abortive rising of 1798, and the 1890s spirit of nationalistic renewal. Next is a consideration of the Abbey Theatre and its reconstruction of legends and use of western Ireland's idioms and characters, chiefly in the dramas of Yeats and Synge. These themes were further developed in the literature associated with the "troubles" of 1916-22 and in later writingthat continue or challenge the themes of the Renaissance. The list of authors studied includes Sean O'Casey, Liam O'Flaherty, FrankO'Connor, Flann O'Brien, and Brendan Behan.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.bard.edu

Phone Number:

(845) 758-6822

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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