Irish Folklore

3 units

Ireland is well noted for its rich folklore and history, from the epic cycle of Cu Chulainn and the tales of wondrous creatures big and small to practices that make up a part of everyday life. Folklore embodies the ebb and flow between the old and the new, the traditional and the modern, and the political and the personal. This course offers both an overview of the breadth of Irish folklore and a deep look at folklore's role in the politics of nation building and the formation and legitimization of multiple Irish identities. We will begin with the legends and myths of early Ireland, examining the important role of music and song, folk belief, and material culture and exploring how these traditions influence modern iterations of the storytelling tradition in the oral tradition and in pop culture like Derry Girls and Irish noir fiction. Readings will include core texts in the study of Irish folklore, online resources such as the National Folklore Collection and the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and the stories and cultural texts themselves.