English 590/History 510/Humanities 530:
Irish Culture
On this page:Professors Lisa Bitel (History) and Kathryn Conrad (English)
Spring 2000
11-12:20 TR, 3016 Learned
course website: http://eagle.cc.ukans.edu/~kconrad/ircult1.html
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.
In order to provide the widest selection of texts and topics possible,
many of the required texts for the course will be online at the course
website, http://eagle.cc.ukans.edu/~kconrad/ircult1.html; students are
responsible for checking the online syllabus regularly for the most up-to-date
information. A selection of online resources is currently available
at http://eagle.cc.ukans.edu/~kconrad/ircultbib.html
and will 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: <ircult@ukans.edu>. To subscribe,
send a message from the e-mail account you would like to use to
listproc@ukans.edu
(no subject header)
containing only the following line
sub ircult [Your Name]
where [Your Name] is--you guessed it--your name.
To send messages to the list (as opposed to subscribing to it),
write to ircult@ukans.edu --the message will go to everyone on the list.
These books are available for purchase (we will be reading entire contents); please note that the books may be listed under any of the three course numbers and either Bitel or Conrad (e.g., HWC 530 Bitel, Hist 510 Conrad):
1. Attendance and participation in discussion. All readings to be completed by date listed on the syllabus (10%).
2. Exams: two in-class exams as listed on the syllabus (15% each) and a final examination (30%).
3. 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. A style sheet may be found online: http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~lbitel/style.html. Topic, bibliography, and paper outline are due as marked on syllabus. Paper guidelines: http://eagle.cc.ukans.edu/~kconrad/ircultpaper.html.
4. 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.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is, according to the Random House Dictionary of the English
Language, "the appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas, and
thoughts of another author, and representation of them as one's original
work." Plagiarism on any exam or paper will result in a failing grade
on that assignment and possible disciplinary action.
Office hours:
Go directly to February -- March -- April -- May.
I. Introduction: Postcolonial Mother Ireland and her Celtic
Roots
Jan. 18
II. Celts
Jan. 20: Celtic migrations and (pre-)Celtic
landscapes
Jan. 25: Celtic culture and mythologies
Jan. 27: Continue Celtic culture and mythologies
Readings:
Readings:
Readings:
V. Literature of Retrospect
Feb. 15: Culture and learning
Feb. 17: Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle-raid of
Cooley); Satire of the tradition
Readings:
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:
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:
VII. Rebellion and Famine
T Mar. 14: O'Connell and Catholic Renewal
Readings:
Readings:
T Mar. 28: Visit to Spencer Research Library to view Irish collections. Meet in the lobby of the Spencer Library (behind Strong Hall); attendence WILL be taken.
VIII. Recovery, Renewal and Revolt
Th Mar. 30: Fenianism, Home Rule, and the Emerging
Irish Revival
Readings:
IX: Cultural Revolution, Emigration
T Apr. 4: Cultural Revolution: The Irish Revival,
The National Theatre
Readings:
X: Revolution once again
T Apr. 11: Writers of the nationalist revolution
Readings:
Th Apr. 13: The Easter Rising
Readings:
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:
Th Apr. 20: Divided Island: the new Republic; Northern Ireland from Partition to the start of the "Troubles."
Readings:
Web assignment:
XII: Northern IrelandReadings:
T May 2: The Peace Process
Readings :
XIII: The Backward Look: Conclusion and Review
Th May 4
Readings:
M May 8: Take home FINAL EXAM available online (here: http://eagle.cc.ukans.edu/~kconrad/ircultfinal.html) & 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.