ATS3944 · Writing the nation: Irish literature

Overview

Writers have felt compelled to define national identity in response to crises, from international conflicts to changes in the status of religion, and the effects of globalisation. With reference to such contexts, this unit explores the relationship between writing and belonging. Does literature produced in a particular nation affirm or challenge what we see as a unique national identity? How do creative works contribute to formations and interrogations of identity, ideology, gender, ethnicity and sexuality in a national context? This unit considers the search for national identity in literary forms such as poetry, drama, and the short story. There will be an emphasis on twentieth- and twenty-first century texts, across a range of genres.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. explain and critique a national literary canon;
2. apply various critical perspectives on national literature to a range of works;
3. examine texts in different literary forms within an evolving cultural tradition;
4. critically analyse fundamental historical/political contexts, and how authors engaged with these;
5. demonstrate advanced undergraduate-level skills in the reading and interpretation of literary texts

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.