Celtic Mythology & Early Irish Literature
GAH 2374-001
Fall 2009
MW 6:00-7:50
C-012
Thomas Kinsella
Thomas.Kinsella@stockton.edu
J-230, Ext. 4419
Office Hours: MW 2:30-5:00; and by appointment.
I'm on campus most days.
This is a Writing-Across-The-Curriculum-Course.
This is a History subscript Course.
Required Texts:
The Celts: A Very Short Introduction. Barry Cunliffe. Oxford.
Early Irish Myths and Sagas. Translated by Jeffrey Gantz. Penguin Classics.
The Tain. Translated by Kinsella. Oxford.
Tales of the Elders of Ireland. Translated by Ann Dooley and Harry Roe.
Oxford.
Celtic Mythology & Early Irish Literature Blog; a good spot for class information.
Email
Email is the best way to contact me. Please remember to provide a coherent subject line. Also, remember to include your name in the text of the email.
Expectations:
The first portion of this course asks you to carefully study a scholarly text that describes the origins and development of Celtic culture. I will lecture on what I consider to be the most important points, but you are expected to read and understand the text. The second portion of the course asks you to carefully read and analyze early Irish literature. You will quickly understand that the literary concerns of the early Irish do not always equate with what might be considered "literary" in the twentieth or twenty-first centuries. Trust me that the quirks of the texts will become recognizable, understandable, and sometimes even endearing. The final portion of the course is devoted to storytelling. You have nothing to fear.
I expect excellent attendance and class participation, especially when discussing early Irish stories.
WEEK 1
W 9/2 Introduction.
In class reading of "The Curse of Macha," Gantz.
WEEK 2
M 9/7 Labor Day -- College closed.
W 9/9 Read for class discussion: "The Dream of Oengus," "The Cattle Raid of Froech," "Tale of Macc Da Tho's Pig," Gantz.
WEEK 3
M 9/14 Reaction paper on initial stories due.
Read for class discussion: The Celts, chapters 1-4.
W 9/16 Read for class discussion: The Celts, chapters 5-8.
WEEK 4
M 9/21 Read for class discussion: The Celts, chapters 9-12.
W 9/23 Read for class discussion: The Celts, chapters 13-16.
WEEK 5
M 9/28 General discussion of The Celts.
W 9/30 Examination on The Celts.
{October 1st is the Deadline to file for Fall 2009 graduation application without financial penalty.}
F 10/2 {Deadline to withdraw from a full-term course with a 50% refund.}
WEEK 6
M 10/5 Bog People dvd.
Read for class discussion: "The Wooing of Etain," Gantz.
W 10/7 Read for class discussion: "The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel," Gantz.
How entertaining is oral literature -- really?
WEEK 7
M 10/12 Read for class discussion: "The Birth of Cu Chulaind," "The Boyhood Deeds of Cu Chulaind," "The Death of Aife's only Son."
W 10/14 Read for class discussion: "The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind & The Only Jealousy of Emer" and "The Intoxication of the Ulaid."
WEEK 8
M 10/19 Read for class discussion: "Bricriu's Feast" and "The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu."
W 10/21 Examination on Early Irish Myths and Sagas.
F 10/23
{Spring 2010 Preregistration Schedule of Classes posted.}
WEEK 9
M 10/26 Introduction to the Tain.
Read for class discussion: "Before the Tain."
T 10/27 Preceptorial Advising - no classes.
W 10/28 Celebration of Samhain.
WEEK 10
M 11/2 Read for class discussion: The Tain.
W 11/4 Preceptorial Advising - no class held until 3:35.
Read for class discussion: The Tain.
WEEK 11
M 11/9 Read for class discussion: The Tain.
W 11/11 Read for class discussion: The Tain.
WEEK 12
M 11/16 First Essay due.
Introduction to the Fenian cycle.
W 11/18 Read for class: Introduction to Tales of the Elders.
WEEK 13
M 11/23 Read for class discussion: Tales of the Elders, prologue and chapter 1.
11/25-27 Thanksgiving.
WEEK 14
M 11/30 Read for class discussion: Tales of the Elders, 2.
W 12/2 Read for class discussion: Tales of the Elders, "The Spear of Fiacha," pp. 51-55; "The Death of Berrach Brecc," pp. 65-67; "The Three Sons of Bodb & The Death of Sadb," 83-87; "The Arrival of Cas Corach," 101-103; "the 3 sons of Iruaith," pp. 151-56; "Cailte & Cas Corach," pp. 192-97; "Patrick Ennobles Cas Corach," p. 210; "The Promise of Aillenn of the Purple Veil," pp. 217-19.
WEEK 15
M 12/7 Story Telling. Second Reaction paper due.
Last Day Post-mortem.
Evaluation:
Reaction paper on initial stories 10%
Examination on The Celts 25%
Examination on Early Irish Myths and Sagas 15%
First Essay 20%
Second Reaction Paper on Tales of the Elders 15%
Story Telling 15%
Reaction papers: Thoughtful responses to the assigned readings -- 3 pages
Essays: Critical analyses of issues, themes, meanings within assigned readings -- 5 pages
Examinations: Thorough testing on assigned material
Storytelling: Individual Storytelling
Academic Honesty
I expect all the work you turn in for this class to be your own. If you haven't done so already, you should familiarize yourself with Stockton's policy on plagiarism; see the Student Handbook, or here: Policy on Academic Honesty.
If you are found to have represented the work or ideas of others as your own, intentionally, or unintentionally, you will face serious consequences, including possible failure of the course and/or expulsion from the college. I turn all instances of plagiarism over to the Office of Academic Affairs. If you have any questions about plagiarism, I will be glad to discuss them with you.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary.