The Irish Storytelling Tradition

Study Abroad Ireland – Summer 2008

INSTRUCTOR:	Liz Warren
OFFICE HOURS:	by appointment
E-MAIL:	liz.warren@smcmail.maricopa.edu
TEXT:	Materials provided and online

Welcome to The Irish Storytelling Tradition! The course will explore:

v The history and practice of storytelling in Ireland

v Irish myths, legends, folktales and humorous tales

v Great storytellers and story collectors of the past and present

v Modern masters of Irish storytelling

v How to research, develop and craft Irish stories for telling

Three glories of speech: steadiness, wisdom, brevity.

Three hateful things in speech: stiffness, obscurity, a bad delivery.

Three things that constitute a poet: knowledge that illumines,

knowledge of incantations, improvisation.

From the Irish Triads

“Storytelling is a thorny business.” Saint Patrick, upon encountering the complexity

of Irish stories.

“Listening to these stories will gladden throngs and nobles for the rest of time.” What St. Patrick’s guardian angels told him about the stories of Finn McCool.

Course Requirements:

1. Build a repertoire of Irish Stories:

You will collect a set of 12 Irish stories that you could potentially tell. This assignment is worth 180 points (15 points per story). Your collection should include at least one from each of the types below. Other than that, you can focus your collection however you like. A form is provided for your use at the end of the syllabus, and I can also email it to you so that you can use it on your computer. These assignments are due on June 11, 18, and 23 and may be typed or handwritten.

• Myths (Mythological, Ulster, Fenian, or Kings)
• Legends (fairies, saints, historical events or persons)
• Folktales
• Short humorous stories or poems

For each story please provide:

· Name of the story

· Indicate what genre the story is (myth, legend, folktale)

· Source

· Locate the story. Does it come from a certain place, tell about a place? Where was it

collected?

· Who told this story and who collected it?

· Why did you choose it or why do you want to tell it?

· Brief Summary of the story

2. Tell Irish Stories: Each person will tell three stories in class. These assignments are worth 225 points total (75 points each). After each telling please provide a one page paper (typed or handwritten) describing:

• The story and its source
• How you went about preparing the story to tell
• Why the story is important to you, or its impact on you
• How did you feel about the telling experience?
• What did you learn by telling the story? Anything you would do differently the next time you tell it?

3. Provide written responses to readings: For assigned readings please provide a one-page response that includes a brief summary, the most interesting or relevant points in your opinion, how the article advanced your understanding of Irish Storytelling, and your personal response to the reading. These assignments may be typed or handwritten. A form is provided for your use at the end of the syllabus, and I can email this one, too. (10 points per reading)

4. Write a Final Paper summarizing what you have learned overall, due Wednesday, June 25th. We will do an exercise in class to help you prepare for this paper. This assignment is worth 100 points and must be typed.

5. Extra Credit: Tell Irish Stories outside of class – worth 50 points each up to 100 points. If you do tell a story outside of class, provide me with a one-page description of where, what, and to whom you told and how it went. We may have opportunities to do some telling in the community.

Irish Storytelling is part of Celtic Heritage:

The Continuity of Irish Storytelling creates narrative bridges from the past through the present to the future. The Irish Storytelling Tradition is one of the most thoroughly studied, documented and Celebrated of any in the world

Throughout history, Irish storytellers have been known for their Eloquence and verbal prowess. The physical Environment is the essential foundation of all Irish Storytelling.

The Legacy of the Irish Storytelling Tradition is inextricably linked to the Irish Language. The gradual Loss of that language, and the subsequent loss of its native language storytellers has changed the tradition forever. Nonetheless, the tradition of storytelling is still Living , even as tellers, their tales, venues, and audiences change.

The Talents of the Tellers and their compelling Tales are hallmarks of the Irish Storytelling Tradition.

Irish Storytelling Tradition – Summer 2008 Schedule

#1 June 3	· Ireland – the mythic landscape
#2 June 4	· Pre-Celtic myth – The Tuatha Dé Danann
#3 June 5	· Myths: The Mythological cycle
#4 June 9	· Myths: The Ulster Cycle
#5 June 10	· Myths: The Fenian Cycle
#6 June 11	· Myths: Kings · Four stories for your repertoire due today
#7 June12	· Legends: Brigit, Patrick and Beyond
#8 June 17	· Legends: Fairy Legends
#9 June 18	· Legends: Historical · Four stories for your repertoire due today
#10 June 19	· Folktales
#11 June 23	· Folktales · Four stories for your repertoire due today
#12 June 24	· Folktales · Humorous Stories and Poems
#13 June 25	· Final Paper due today
#14 June 26	· Final Wrap up and Evaluation

The Irish Storytelling Tradition – STO-290 – Official Course Description

Course Description:

Introduction to the history and practice of storytelling in Ireland. Overview of Irish myths, legends, folktales, and humorous tales. Great story tellers and story collectors of the past and present. Researching, developing, and crafting Irish stories for telling.

Competencies:

1. Explain the importance of storytelling in Irish culture throughout history and within a range of social contexts. (I)

2. Explain the role and function of the storyteller in Irish society of the past and present. (I)

3. Describe the effects of war, literacy, and the loss of Gaelic on Irish Storytelling. (II)

4. Describe the genres of Irish Stories. (III, IV,V, VI)

5. Describe the types of Irish folktales. (V)

6. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of folklorists and story collectors to Irish storytelling. (II)

7. Demonstrate an ability to find and develop Irish stories. (III, IV, V, VI)

8. Tell Irish stories. (III, IV, V, VI)

9. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics and responsibilities associated with telling Irish stories in an American context. (VII)

10. Demonstrate a familiarity with the work of modern masters of Irish Storytelling. (VIII)

Outline:

I. The History of Irish Storytelling and the Roles of the Bard and Seanachie

A. The Celtic Bardic System

B. The Loss of the Bardic Tradition

C. Storytelling in Medieval Ireland

D. Storytelling in the 19^th and 20^th Centuries

II. Preserving the Irish story tradition

A. War, Literacy, and the Loss of Gaelic

B. Story Collectors of the 19^th Century

C. Story Collectors of the 20^th Century

D. The Irish Folklore Commission

III. Telling stories from the Irish mythic tradition

A. The Mythological, Ulster, Fenian, and Kingly Cycles

B. Sources of Irish myth, major translators and compilers

C. Crafting an Irish myth to tell

IV. Telling Irish Legends

A. Saints, heroes, wise women, and healers

B. Sources of Irish legends, major translators and compilers

C. Crafting an Irish legend to tell

V. Telling Irish Folktales

A. The types of Irish folktales

B. Sources of Irish folktales, major translators and compilers

C. Crafting an Irish folktale to tell

VI. Telling Humorous Irish Stories

A. Irish jokes and anecdotes

B. Sources of Irish humorous stories

C. Crafting an Irish humorous story to tell

VII. The Ethics and Responsibilities of Telling Irish Stories

A. Basics of Gaelic pronunciation

B. Providing context for American audiences

C. Seeking variants of stories and/or permissions

VIII. Modern Masters of Irish Storytelling

A. Profiles of modern master storytellers

B. Familiarity with the work of modern masters

C. The future of Irish storytelling

Story Repertoire Form

The Irish Storytelling Tradition – SAI 2008 Name:_________________

• Name of the story:
• Indicate what genre the story is (myth, legend, folktale):
• Source:
• Locate the story. Does it come from a certain place, or tell about a particular place? Where was it collected?
• Who told this story and who collected it?
• Why did you choose it or why do you want to tell it?

• Brief Summary of the story

Reading Response Form

Irish Storytelling Tradition – SAI 2008 Name:_____________________

For assigned readings please provide a one-page response that includes the following:

• A brief summary (5-7 sentences) of the article.

• The most interesting or relevant points in your opinion.

• How the article advanced your understanding of Irish Storytelling.

• Your personal response to the reading.