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ENG42180

Academic Year 2026/2027

The Irish Home (ENG42180)

Subject:
English
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
English, Drama & Film
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Katherine Ebury
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This course examines representations of the home in modern and contemporary Irish literature and culture, with an emphasis on changing historical and theoretical contexts for the domestic space. Although the domestic is often seen at first as a refuge from the pressures of modernity, when we look deeper it is obvious that the Irish home always directly mirrors the changing times. This representation is reflected in a range of works drawn from across a diverse set of genres and authors between the 1890s and the 2020s. Issues to be considered will include: the shaping force of colonial and postcolonial factors; the influence of relationship dynamics including new discourses of gender and sexuality; the impact of technology and ecological consciousness; and the effect of the Irish diaspora tradition and the current housing crisis. Students are further encouraged to respond to the module by reflecting on what ‘home’ has meant to them so far, and considering what the domestic might mean in future.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify relevant historical and theoretical contexts for the modern and contemporary Irish home
2. Develop analyses about Irish literary representations of the home
3. Reflect on past academic and personal experience of thinking about the home
4. Demonstrate research and thinking via advanced critical writing

Indicative Module Content:

Module texts will be drawn from a wide range of modern and contemporary literature, including poetry, nonfiction, short stories, novels and films.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Proficient

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Expert

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Proficient

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Expert

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 2

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 3

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 2

Reduce inequality within and among countries 2

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 3

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 3
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

80
Autonomous Student Learning

120
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Total

220

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is taught through a weekly two-hour seminar. During the seminar we will engage in consist of whole group discussion, small group exercises, and close reading of both literary and critical texts. Students will also learn through writing tasks, engagement with theoretical materials, short unassessed presentations and guided independent research and reflection.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 4000 word research essay

Week 14 Graded No
75
 No
Reflective Assignment: 1000 word reflection Week 6 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 1000 word essay proposal, preparatory to the research essay (15%) Week 10 Graded No
15
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Formal individual post-assessment feedback from instructor after each assessment

Yeats, selected poems

Synge, 'The Aran Islands'

Joyce, selections from 'Ulysses'

Bowen, 'The Last September'

Maeve Brennan, selected stories

Mary Lavin, selected stories

Clare Keegan, 'Foster'

Mike McCormack, 'Solar Bones'

Anthology, 'Writing Home: the ‘New Irish’ Poets'

Frank Berry (dir.), 'Aisha'

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 15:50
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