ENG 3110 - IRISH WRITERS:YEATS, JOYCE AND SYNGE

credits: 0.0
This course enables students to refine their skills of critical reading, writing, and discussion in three genres–poetry, fiction, and drama–and to apply them to representative works by three major Anglo-Irish literary figures: William Butler Yeats, arguably this century’s most significant lyric poet; James Joyce, surely one of its greatest novelists; and John Millington Synge, one of its most remarkable – and most neglected – playwrights. Writing simultaneously out of their common experience as Irishmen but also as citizens of the modern world, each of these authors blends autobiography with fiction - making while also working in several secondary forms and discovering unique habits of language and experimental modes of literary form. In studying these writers, students will also arrive at a greater understanding of the fundamental issues, ideas, and attitudes of literary modernism. Method of Instruction: While there will be some informal lecture on historical and cultural contexts, classes will consist chiefly of critical discussion based upon close reading and explication of the texts. For each class, selected students will serve as discussion co-leaders, based upon their having written class reports on topics issuing from that day’s reading. The last week will be given to seminar sessions on a topic announced earlier in the term. The course will make use of several audio- and video-tapes of poetry readings and dramatic performances. Method of Evaluation: Final grades will be the average of four components: weekly class reports (25%); two critical essays on topics developed from outside reading (25% each); a final seminar paper on a topic announced earlier in the term (25%). Missed reports may be made up; the lowest report grade will be dropped. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 2020 - MAJR ENGLISH AUTHORS I:MEDIEVAL ANDRENASANCE (or) ENG 2021 - MAJOR ENGLISH AUTHORS II:NEOCLASSICAL AND ROMANTIC (or) ENG 2043 - AMERICAN LITERATURE: CIVIL WAR TO 1945 (or) ENG 2044 - AMERICAN LITERATURE: 1945 TO PRESNT (or) ENG 2022 - MAJOR ENGLISH AUTHORS III: VICTORANAND MODERN