Detailed Information
What distinguishes contemporary Irish writing? What are its chief thematic preoccupations and formal innovations? Who are its leading authors, what are their chosen subjects and who were their influences? How are contemporary Irish literary works received by their readers, nationally and internationally, and how can the ongoing diversity in literary texts, and in readers’ reactions, be studied and interpreted?
This module will introduce readers to a range of contemporary Irish writings, spanning fiction (including short stories) and poetry, closely examining the choice of theme, the significance of form, and the nature of the works' impact. In analysing the depiction of contemporary Irish urban and rural society in contemporary fiction, we will engage with ongoing debates concerning the function and importance of literary representation in the context of social crisis and change. Given the contemporary interest in commemoration, the module will also examine the interweaving of public event and private experience by a range of contemporary poets.
Workshop discussions, supporting the core lectures, will also examine how these contemporary writings have been received to date by readers and critics, and trace the ongoing processes whereby the reputations of texts and their writers are formed and shaped. Each workshop will also incorporate formal exercises designed to ensure that first year students acquire the necessary skills for studying English: writing and close-reading; note-taking, research, and referencing; and effective use of electronic resources such as online journals, Blackboard, and SafeAssign.
Semester 1
Level 1
Lectures: Tuesdays 10:00 - 11:00 am beginning September 11
Tutorials: To be selected
If you are taking this module for credit, please take note of the dates below:
Term dates for revision: Saturday, 1 December - Sunday, 9 December
Term dates for exams: Monday, 10 December - Friday, 21 December
Open Learning Fee (audit only) €350 per module
Open Learning Fee (with assessment) €500 per 5 credit module
Upgrading from audit to credit
You may upgrade from being an audit student to a credit student up to three weeks into term. Please note, however, that you can't change back to being an audit student - if you decide not to complete the assignments and/or sit the exams, this will appear on your academic record.
Concessions
There are no concessions available for Open Learning modules.
Refunds
Refunds may in some instances be available for extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness, within two weeks of the start of the module. Requests for refunds must be submitted in writing, with supporting documents where appropriate.
Prof Margaret Kelleher
Requried readings: Anne Enright, The Forgotten Waltz (2011); Kevin Barry, Dark Lies the Island (2012); Colm Tóibín, The Empty Family(2010); Harry Clifton, The Winter Sleep of Captain Lemass (2012); Paula Meehan, Painting Rain (2009).
These texts are available for purchase in the campus bookshop, in most bookshops, or borrowable from your local library.