Early Irish Literature (CT0088)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-CT0088

Early Irish Literature complements the philologically based courses Early Irish Texts 1 & 2. Early Irish Literature will introduce senior undergraduate and incoming postgraduate students to the rich literary tradition of medieval Ireland. The course will focus on reading texts within their contemporary medieval context, and on developing a full picture of the diversity of the early Irish literary tradition. It will also explore contemporary medieval approaches to the interpretation and description of the literature.

After a brief survey of the sources and an outline of critical approaches, we shall focus on a particular genre or class of texts each week. Individual topics include Vision and Voyage literature, the pseudo-historical tradition, the Ulster Cycle, hagiographical, allegorical, and satirical literature, and narrative and lyric poetry. For each session, the basis for discussion will be the primary texts (in translation), supplemented by seminal critical reading.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Celtic, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students of this course have the opportunity to get an overview of early Irish literature and an introduction to the state of scholarship and criticism in this field. They will be introduced to relevant theoretical approaches, and have the opportunity to develop and test out their own approaches to literary interpretation in a supported environment.

Assessment Information

The course is examined as a two hour paper. Two short essays are due (2000 words), with deadlines to be agreed with the instructor. Each student is also required to give one seminar presentation during the term, and to hand in a summary of their material for assessment. The weighting of exam and class work is 50:50. The division of marks for the class work is: Essay 1 20%; Essay 2 20 %; Seminar presentation summary 10%.