Group 1's members include... Caitlin Kiefner, Husam Alanazi, Nicholas Trapani, Peter Mester
We define the Irish Literary Revival as a period (in c.1885–1939) characterized by flourishing Irish literary talent while celebrating Irish nationalism, rehabituating traditions of Gaelic heritage, and retrieving mythologies. Some synonyms include: Celtic Revival, Irish Literary Renaissance, Celtic Dawn, Celtic Twilight. The Irish Literary Revival was developed of Irish literary talent in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was linked to political nationalism as well as the resurgence of Ireland's Gaelic literary heritage. The movement supported the study of Irish history and the revival of the Irish language and culture. Although many different things inspired the renaissance; Lady Gregory, William Yeats, The Abbey Theater, and the Home Rule League played significant roles in the upsurge of Irish literary talent.
Lady Gregory, who was born in Ireland in 1852, is best known for her contributions to the Irish Literary Revival. She was a co-founder of the Abbey Theatre and the Irish Literary Theatre with her life-long friend William Butler Yeats. “The Rising of the Moon,” by Lady Gregory, is a political play about the relationship between England and Ireland. Here we see Ireland attempting to break free from English rule. The characters are torn between obligation and patriotism, but they are eventually brought together as Irishmen by the legends, myths, and songs that they all share. (Exploring the Art and Literature of Ireland) Patriotism is the power that binds a country's citizens together. Two characters appear in Lady Gregory's play: One is an Irish nationalist with a prize on his head who is fighting for Irish independence, and the other is a sergeant on the lookout for him. The patriot assumes the persona of a ballad singer. He sings patriotic folk songs and stirs up the sergeant's patriotism.
Willian Butler Yeats was an Irish poet whose plays mostly dealt with Irish legends and reflected his interest in mystical and spiritual subjects. During the Victorian era, Yeats became associated with the Celtic Revival, a movement that aimed to promote the spirit of Ireland's native heritage in opposition to the cultural influences of English rule in Ireland. He is remembered as a significant cultural figure, a major playwright, and one of the twentieth century's greatest English-language poets. In 1923, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. In the wake of World War I, “The Second Coming” was published in 1919. Yeats intended “The Second Coming” to characterize the present historical moment (the poem was published in 1921).
In order to gain independence, the Irish attempted to gain their own parliament, which became known as the Home Rule. The need for power over Ireland's domestic affairs was a recurring theme in the centuries of English domination. The modern Home Rule movement started in 1870, led by Isaac Butt, whose initiative was particularly appealing to the Irish middle class. (Home Rule) The long agricultural depression that began in 1873 provided additional economic impetus for Home Rule, and the movement gained support from agricultural workers and former members of the Fenian movement under the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell. (Home Rule) Only a small number of people used violence during this period, and Parnell disavowed the murder of two British officials in Dublin in 1882.
The Irish literary renaissance aimed at reviving ancient Irish folklore, legends, and traditions in new literary works. The movement was in part the cultural aspect of a political movement that was concerned with self-government for Ireland and discovering a literary past that would be relevant to the struggle for independence. We learn about many plays like Lady Gregory’s, “The Rising of the Moon,” and William Yeats “The Second Coming” that help people like us today study the Irish Literary renaissance in its entirety.
Handbook of the Irish Revivall: An Anthology of Irish Cultural and Political Writings 1891–1922
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Handbook of the Irish Revivall: An Anthology of Irish Cultural and Political Writings 1891–1922
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Handbook of the Irish Revivall: An Anthology of Irish Cultural and Political Writings 1891–1922
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