ENG31930 Irish Fiction After 2010

Academic Year 2020/2021

This seminar will examine a range of contemporary Irish novels and short stories, published in the last 6 years. We will look at a range of Irish writing, examining its thematic preoccupations, its formal innovations and its ongoing reception by readers in a variety of fora (online media, printed media, etc) The course will include a range of short fiction including work by Claire Keegan, Colin Barrett and Danielle McLaughlin, and recent novels by Kevin Barry, Anne Enright, Anna Burns Mike McCormack.

The turn to the past in contemporary Irish fiction (judged by some critics as literary opportunity and others as disabling obsession) will be a central theme of the course as will fictional imaginings of alternative futures. Finally, in analysing the depiction of contemporary Irish society by writers ranging from Barrett and McCormack to McLaughlin, Burns and Enright we will engage with ongoing debates concerning the function of literary representation in the context of social crisis and change.

Note on reading list: these titles are generally available, either for purchase in bookstores or borrowable from your local library

Reading List: Kevin Barry, City of Bohane (2011), Claire Keegan, Foster (2010), Anne Enright, The Green Road (2015), Colin Barrett, Young Skins (2014), Danielle McLaughlin, Dinosaurs on Other Planets (2015); Mike McCormack, Solar Bones (2016); Anna Burns, Milkman (2018)

PLEASE NOTE that the School of English, Drama and Film reserves the right to withdraw modules in the period up to and including the first week of the teaching trimester

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

To introduce students to a range of contemporary Irish writing;
To examine the significance of a return to the past in contemporary Irish fiction;
To compare and contrast the significance of theme and location in a range of contemporary Irish fictional works;
To engage with current debates concerning the function of literary representation in the context of contemporary social crisis.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

0

Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Specified Learning Activities

80

Autonomous Student Learning

100

Total

204

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is taught through seminar mode. Participation in group discussion is a core component. Students will be asked to choose research tasks which will form the basis of the final assignment. The course essay will have an earlier deadline than other modules to facilitate earlier submission and feedback within the course module, as well as the opportunity to edit the essay based on feedback. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: More details provided in course syllabus Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

25

Essay: More details provided in class syllabus Week 8 n/a Graded No

50

Continuous Assessment: To be provided in class syllabus Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

25


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Claire Keegan, Foster (2010);
Kevin Barry, City of Bohane (2011);
Colin Barrett, Young Skins (2014);
Anne Enright, The Green Road (2015);
Danielle McLaughlin, Dinosaurs on Other Planets (2015);
Mike McCormack, Solar Bones (2016);
Anna Burns, Milkman (2018).