The Hidden Ireland: Themes and Issues in Eighteenth-Century Irish Poetry

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The <i>Hidden Ireland</i> denotes both a book and a concept. The book was written by Daniel Corkery in 1924 and was an immediate success as it encapsulated a version of Irish history that had not hitherto been available to the general public; it is still considered to be a classic of its kind. The concept promoted the notion that history should emanate from "below" and should not be confined to the elites and governing classes. Both book and concept have had a profound impact on our understanding of Irish identity, Irish history and Irish literature. This course will examine the book in depth and utilitze it to open a window on the <i>Hidden Ireland</i> of the 18th century. The cultural, historical, and literary issues raised by the book will be studied in the context of the poetry of the period. Poetry will be read in translation.