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The Irish poet Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) is undoubtedly one of the most important and influential writers in recent British literature. Born in Mossbawn, Northern Ireland, as the first of nine children, his childhood was spent on the family farm. From there he moved on to become the foremost poet of his generation, working broadly as lecturer, playwright, and translator. In 1995, he received the Novel Prize in Literature for “works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past.” His work is situated in the liminal space between past, present and possible future, taking on the heritage of English literature in the context of Irish history as well as European literary traditions going as far back as Homer, Virgil and Dante.
In this seminar, we will deal with all stages of Heaney’s careers by reading excerpts from all of his major collections. We will situate these readings within their respective biographical and socio-political contexts. In addition, we will focus on Heaney’s own critical essays as well as the critical reception of his work. |
