This course is a comprehensive survey of Irish dramatic literature from the late nineteenth century to the present, examining the emergence of an aesthetic movement attempting to create and redefine a nation and its literature. The revival of certain ancient myths and stories and their adaptation to this creative effort paralleled the invention of new concepts and literary tropes to explain Irish identity and its colonial legacy. Our exploration will begin with Yeats, Lady Gregory, and the legacy of the Irish Literary Revival, finishing with the plays of Martin MacDonagh, one of the leading lights in the new generation of contemporary Irish drama.

Art and Politics
Professor: J. Curley
Section: 111
Meeting times: MWR 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
1st Session: 5/27/07 - 6/30/07