Rebellion, Famine, and the Resilient Imagination: Irish Literature in Times of Crisis

Irish history has seen its fair share of natural and political crises, from Cromwell's conquest of Ireland to the failed Rebellion of 1798, and, most notoriously, the Great Famine. In each of these moments of change, trauma, and violence, Irish people have turned to stories, novels, and the written word as a means of survival. In this class we will look at key moments of change and crises in Ireland from around 1600 to 1900 and consider how writers responded, how they used language--even, at times, comedy--to guide their society in grief, resistance, and cultural endurance. Writers will include Geoffrey Keating, Sarah Butler, Aogan O Rathaille, Brian Merriman, Charles Macklin, Sydney Owenson, Lady Speranza Wilde, Lady Gregory, and Emily Lawless. Pre-1900.