Irish History & Literature

Irish History & Literature

Background & A Brief History of Ireland

• studying background information helps give you an additional lense through which to understand literary texts and other media

• Read pages 2 - 4 of your reader carefully and answer the following questions

Multiple Select

The independence of Ireland led to the end of conflict across the entire island.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

The treatment of the rebels by the English after the Easter Uprising led increased support from the farmers for the cause.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

What is the definition of the practice known as Plantation Policy?

• Land was seized from Catholic landowners and given to Protestants

• Land was seized from Protestand landowners and given to Catholics

Multiple Select

The Easter Uprising was supported by people all over Ireland.

• true

• false

Fill in the Blank

The official languages of Ireland are _____________ and _________________

Multiple Choice

When did the English come to Ireland?

• the 7th century

• from the 10th to the 11th century

• the 13th century

Multiple Choice

When did the Vikings come to Ireland?

• the 7th century

• from the 10th to the 11th century

• the 13th century

Multiple Choice

When did Christian Missionaries come to Ireland?

• the 7th century

• from the 10th - 11th century

• the 13th century

Fill in the Blank

What year did The Easter Uprising occur?

Fill in the Blank

___________________ is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland.

Fill in the Blank

What country shares a border with the Republic of Ireland?

Multiple Choice

When was Ireland made part of the United Kingdom?

• 1534

• 1801

• 1916

• 1948

Multiple Choice

Which, of the following, was a source of conflict in Ireland for centuries?

• religion

• history

• literature

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Who invaded Ireland in 1169?

• Hunter-gatherers

• Christian missionaries

• Vikings

• Normans

Multiple Choice

Which Irish cities were built by the Vikings?

• Limerick

• Cork and Wexford

• Dublin

• all of the above

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

Who brought the Roman alphabet to Ireland?

• Hunter-gatherers

• Romans

• Viking invaders

• Christian Missionaries

Multiple Choice

What was the original religion in Ireland?

• Paganism

• Christianity

• Judaism

• No one knows

Multiple Choice

How long ago was Ireland first settled?

• 100,000 years ago

• 10,000 years ago

• 8,000 years ago

• 1,000 years ago

Watch the video on the next slide

• You'll be asked to answer a few questions afterwards

Multiple Choice

What cultural difference is being parodied in this scene from the Derry Girls?

• the similarities/differences between boys and girls

• the similarities/differences between religious and non religious people

• the simmilarities/differences between Catholics and Protestants

Open Ended

How and why was this difference significant in Ireland's history?

Now read Background: Literature on pages 6-8

answer the questions below

Fill in the Blank

The famous musical 'My Fair Lady' is based on a play called _______________ by the author John Bernard Shaw.

Fill in the Blank

James Joyce is the author of ________________, which is considered one of the foremost modernist books in English literature.

Multiple Choice

Which Irish author/poet was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1923

• John Bernard Shaw

• William Butler Yeats

• Oscar Wilde

• Bram Stoker

An Irish Airman Forsees His Death

• Watch the following video of actor Adrian Dunbar reciting one of Yeats' moving poems

• Listen carefully to how Dunbar explains the Irish attitude to the World War

Open Ended

Why does he describe the Irish as being stuck in the middle in regards to both wars?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was written by Jonathan Swift:

a) A Modest Proposal

b) Gulliver's Travels

c) Pygmalion

d)An Irish Airman Foresees his Death

• a and b

• c and d

• all of the above

• none of the above

Jonathan Swift is known for his use of satire in literature

• Swift used satire as a means to criticise the commercial and social injustices of the ruling class, the English.

• Watch the following rap of his famous 'A Modest Proposal' satire and answer the question afterwards.

Open Ended

How does Swift propose to solve the problem of poverty in Irish society? Be as specific as you can.

Fill in the Blank

The Book of _________ is considered to be Ireland's most precious medieval artifact and Europe's finest surviving illustrated manuscript of its time.

Trinity College Library

For lovers of rare and beautiful manuscripts, such as The Book of Kells, this library is well worth the visit. Take a peak inside with the following video.

Fill in the Blank

_____ __________________ was a mythical Irish warrior and champion of Ulster. He is the Irish equivalent of Achilles in Greek mythology.