Celtic Studies

The Celtic languages remain the media of communication to a greater or lesser extent in communities scattered on the western fringe of 21st-century Europe, in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany. These are the survivors of a history traceable over two and a half thousand years encompassing, at one time, nearly the whole of western Europe and much of central and eastern Europe. The modern Celtic languages interact in various ways with the societies in which they are embedded, the official and unofficial institutions of those societies (government, legislation, industry, etc.), and with the wider cultures of the countries where they are used. This course introduces students to the study of the Celtic languages in these contexts and the sociolinguistics of the Celtic languages, and considers the ways in which they are endangered as languages of the lives and thoughts of the people who use them. Students also examine ways in which their existence and status can be strengthened and expanded, through language planning, looking also at the cases of Cornish in Cornwall and Manx in the Isle of Man, where, though technically dead languages, vigorous revival movements work to prove that news of their demise was premature.

This course introduces students to some of the most significant events, changes, and movements in the history of Ireland and Britain from the late centuries BC to the 10th century AD.  The topics addressed include the insular Celtic migrations and settlements of the early medieval period (including the migrations from Britain to Brittany and from Ireland to Scotland, and the Irish settlements in Wales and in Man), the christianiaztion of the West (of Ireland, of western Scotland from Ireland, and of northern England from Scotland), and the incursions, settlement, and impact of the Vikings.

This course explores Irish Theater since 1964. Some of the texts studied include Brian Friel's PHILADELPHIA HERE I COME, Enda Walsh's THE WALWORTH FARCE, FREEFALL by Michael West, and David Ireland's CYPRUS AVENUE. A new play is studied at each week's lecture.

This course examines some of the cultural consequences of the coming of Christianity to medieval Ireland, especially in the area of reading and writing. Topics include the early history of Christianity in Ireland, the earliest writings from the Celtic-speaking world, religious literature in Irish and Latin, the contribution of the Irish to Christianity and learning abroad, and the impact of Christianity and the new learning on Irish vernacular culture.

This course is for students who have not previously studied Irish and students who have no knowledge of the Irish language or know only a few words and phrases. It is an introduction to the Irish language in which students are required to participate actively in the classroom and devote time to autonomous learning. Emphasis is placed on developing the four language skills.

This is a course in early (i.e. pre twelfth-century) Irish saga literature in which a variety of texts, mainly from the Ulster, Mythological and King cycles are read in translation and discussed in class. Sagas to be read include the tragic story of Deirdre’s love for Naoise, the story of Niall Frasach’s judgement regarding the lesbian mother of a ‘fatherless’ child, and Sin's cold-blooded determination to exact revenge on her ‘lover’ for the slaughter of her family.

This course provides an introduction to the study of culture, society, and tradition in Scotland, with the emphasis on deconstructing competing conceptions and images of the nation. Theoretical approaches to the investigation of cultural construction, representation, and expression are introduced through heritage, literature, folklore, music, song, visual art, and the popular media. Students are also invited to consider the political context of cultural representation and investigate the interface between culture and industry.