Humor in Irish Literature

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Jokes. Word play. Ribaldry. The Macabre. The Grotesque. Wit. Satire. Comic Verse. Parody. This course will read diverse examples of the long and fertile comic tradition in Irish literature (originally composed in Irish and in English), from medieval to modern, in order to enjoy a good laugh, get an alternative take on the Irish literary tradition, think about the politics of (Irish) humor, and get smarter. Authors will include unknown acerbic medieval scribes, satiric bardic poets, Swift, Merriman, Sheridan, Wilde, and Flann O'Brien. No knowledge of Irish is assumed or necessary. Coursework will include plentiful reading, several papers (including a creative option), and a final presentation. The course satisfies the literature requirement and counts toward the IRLL minor and the IRST minor.