Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis A detailed study of the works (prose and verse) of Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) in their cultural and political contexts. Students will be encouraged to work from original texts, and to become familiar with the manuscript/print culture of the period. Topics will include Swift's changing political ideologies; paradox and irony as modes of writing; Irish and English cultural contexts (eg mercantilism, England as `centre,' Ireland as `margin'); poetry and misogyny; Swift and post-structuralist critical theory.
Assessment Seminar paper (1500 words): 25% + Short essay (2500 words): 25% + Long essay (4000-5000 words): 50%