Fall 1999 Lee Jacobus
Office phone: 486-2570; home phone: 483-5001
CLASS MEETS T-TH 11-12:30 IN ARJONA JHA 409
MY OFFICE HOURS ARE T-TH 10:30-11; Tues. 4-5; Thurs. 3:30-5
BY ARRANGEMENT My office is Arjona 410
Modern Irish Literature begins with the revival of myth in the late nineteenth century and continues in the exploration of roots of various kinds in the work of contemporary fiction writers and poets.
The books required in the course are numerous (9) and various. Since the bookstore makes a practice of returning unsold books early, and since these books are not readily available elsewhere, I suggest that you buy them immediately so you will not be in the embarrassing position of not knowing what is going on in class.
You will find a great poetic lifework; three great playwrights; and several important works of fiction.
Class participation is a key to this course. For that reason, and others, your class attendance is important. The reading in this course is extensive and exciting. But it is also easy to fall behind. More than that, reading the material is the least of it; more important is what you have to say about it, what you make of it, and how keen and sensitive you are the face of this extraordinary literature. Since I will be expecting you to contribute insights in each class, I want to remind you now that maintaining the reading on the day it is assigned is your first priority. The reading and the class discussions will well reward your efforts. Absences in excess of 4 will be cause for me to lower your grade substantially.
The Mid-term Examination is on October 26. The Term Paper is due December 7. The Final Examination date will be announced.
You will be asked to write a final term paper on an Irish writer. I will give you a list to choose from. Due date for the term paper (7 pp. in length) is Thursday, December 7. The paper is to be an original discussion of one work by an Irish author, set in the context of Irish literature.
SYLLABUS Week-1/2 Sept. 2 Tain Bo Cuailgne,Tr. Thomas Kinsella
Week 2 Sept. 7 Tain Bo Cuailgne, Tr. Thomas Kinsella
Sept. 9 Tain Bo Cuailgne, Tr. Thomas Kinsella
Week 3 Sept. 14 MARIA EDGEWORTH, Castle Rackrent
Sept. 16 MARIA EDGEWORTH, Castle RackrentWeek 4: Sept. 21 KENNELLY: Penguin Book of Irish Verse, pp.60-118
Sept. 23 KENNELLY: Penguin Book of Irish Verse, Swift, Mangan, Ferguson, Allingham, PearseWeek 5 Sept. 28 BRAM STOKER: Dracula
Sept. 30 BRAM STOKER: Dracula
Week 6 Oct. 5 YEATS: Selected Poems: "Crossways," "The Rose," "The Wind Among the Reeds," "In the Seven Woods," pp. 1-31
Oct. 7 YEATS: Selected Poems: pp. 31-94 Vols.: The Green Helmet & Other Poems," "Responsibilities," "The Wild Swans at Coole," Michael Robartes and the Dancer."
Week 7 Oct. 12 YEATS: Selected Poems: pp. 94- 158 "Calvary," "The Tower," "The Winding Stair and Other Poems,"
Oct. 14 YEATS: Selected Poems: pp. 158-185 "A Full Moon in March," "New Poems," "On the Boiler."
Reminder: October 26 Mid-Semester Examination Week 8 Oct. 19 YEATS: Selected Poems: pp.185-219 "Last Poems," "The Death of Cuchulain," "Purgatory."
Oct. 21 YEATS: Selected Poems: pp.293-355 Vols.: "New Poems and Last Poems"
Week 9 Oct. 26 MID-TERM EXAMINATIONOct. 28 SYNGE Complete Plays, The Well of the Saints, Riders to the Sea
Week 10 Nov. 2 SYNGE: Complete Plays, The Playboy of the Western World
Nov. 4 SYNGE: Complete Plays, Deirdre of the Sorrows
Week 11 Nov. 9 WILDE: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Nov. 11 WILDE: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Week 12 Nov. 16 JOYCE: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Chap. 1
Nov. 18 JOYCE: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Chap. 2 & 3Thanksgiving Break
Week 13 Nov. 30 JOYCE: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Chap. 4
Dec. 2 JOYCE: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Chap 5
Reminder: your paper is due December 7Week 14 Dec. 7 SEAN O'CASEY, Three Plays, The Shadow of a Gunman
Dec. 9 SEAN O'CASEY, Three Plays, Juno and the Paycock
Week 14-1/2 Dec. 14 SEAN O'CASEY, Three Plays, The Plough and the Stars
The date of the final examination will be announced.
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