Irish History
This movement aimed to end British rule in Ireland.
nationalism
→ Irish nationalism sought independence from British control through political, cultural, and sometimes violent means. It developed gradually across the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was closely tied to questions of identity, language, and sovereignty.
This ideology justified British expansion and domination on the basis of economic interests and supposed cultural superiority.
Imperialism
→ Imperialism refers to the expansion of British political and economic control over territories across Africa, Asia, and beyond. It was justified by economic interests, such as access to resources and markets, as well as by cultural arguments about superiority. These ideas shaped how Britain viewed itself as a global power. Literature of the period often reflects or critiques this imperial mindset.
This Irish playwright wrote Pygmalion.
→ George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and critic known for his intellectual and politically engaged theatre. He used drama as a way to challenge social norms, particularly those related to class, language, and inequality. In Pygmalion, he explores how language can function as a marker of social status. His work often combines humor with serious social critique.
This novel features a character named Kurtz.
→ Heart of Darkness follows Marlow’s journey into the Congo, where he encounters the mysterious figure Kurtz. Kurtz represents the moral corruption that can result from unchecked power. The novel exposes the violence and hypocrisy underlying European imperialism. It questions the idea that colonial powers are truly “civilized.”
This person shapes actors’ interpretation of a play and is responsible for the overall vision and staging of a play
→ The director guides actors, interpret the script, and make decisions about movement, tone, and design. Their role is essential in transforming a written text into a live performance. Different directors can produce very different interpretations of the same play.
This event caused mass starvation and emigration in 19th-century Ireland.
Famine
→ The crisis was triggered by a potato blight, a plant disease that destroyed Ireland’s staple food crop. However, Ireland was still producing large amounts of other food (grain, meat, dairy) during this period. Instead of feeding the local population, this food was exported to Britain under existing economic and political systems. As a result, while people in Ireland were starving, food was leaving the country. For this reason, historians argue that the catastrophe was not only a natural disaster, but also a political and economic failure.
This period follows Queen Victoria’s reign.
The Edwardian Era
→ The Edwardian era began in 1901 after the death of Queen Victoria and lasted until the start of World War I in 1914. It is often seen as a period of transition between strict Victorian morality and a more modern, relaxed society. However, many structures of inequality, especially class divisions and imperial power, remained firmly in place. This tension between change and continuity is central to understanding the period.
This writer used wit to critique Victorian morality.
→ Oscar Wilde is known for his sharp wit, paradoxes, and use of irony. His plays and novels expose the hypocrisy of Victorian society, especially regarding morality, respectability, and appearance. Wilde often shows that social norms are superficial and contradictory. His style allows him to criticize society while entertaining his audience.
This novelist exposed poverty in London society during the mid-19th century.
Charles Dickens wrote during the height of the Industrial Revolution (1830s–1870s). His novels highlight the harsh conditions faced by the poor in urban environments. Through memorable characters and narratives, he brought attention to social injustice. His work contributed to public debates about reform and responsibility.
A ____________is a word taken from Latin, and it means ‘talking by oneself.’ It’s a device that dramatists use to allow a character to communicate their thoughts directly to the audience.
A soliloquy is a speech in which a character reveals their inner thoughts. It is typically delivered while alone, or as if alone: even if other characters are present, the convention is that they cannot hear it. The character is not truly addressing anyone, but thinking aloud. Elizabethan audiences accepted this convention (Literary conventions refer to the norms and structures that are commonly found in various forms of literature) without question.
A monologue is a long speech delivered by a character, usually to other characters on stage, with the intention of communicating something (ideas, emotions, information).
This movement fought for Irish self-government within Britain (1870s–1914).
Home Rule
→ The Home Rule movement dominated British and Irish politics from the 1870s to 1914. Several bills were introduced but repeatedly delayed or blocked, especially due to opposition in Parliament. Its failure contributed to growing frustration and radicalization.
This social group owned factories and shaped industrial society.
→ industrialists
→ Industrialists emerged as a powerful new class during the Industrial Revolution, building wealth through factories and mass production. Unlike the traditional aristocracy, their status came from economic success rather than birth. Their rise contributed to major social transformations, including urbanization and new class tensions. This shift is key to understanding Victorian social hierarchy.
This modernist writer, the author of Ulysses (1922), is known for experimenting with stream of consciousness, a technique that attempts to capture the continuous flow of a character’s thoughts and perceptions.
→ James Joyce is a key figure of literary modernism, known for breaking traditional narrative structures. His use of stream of consciousness allows readers to access characters’ inner thoughts directly. This technique reflects the complexity and fragmentation of modern identity. Joyce’s work marks a shift away from the realism of the Victorian period.
This narrative form criticizes society through exaggeration.
→ Satire uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose flaws in society. It allows writers to critique authority, norms, and institutions indirectly. In the Victorian and Edwardian periods, satire was a key tool for social commentary.
This scientific study of speech sounds is central to Pygmalion.
→ Phonetics is the study of how sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived. In Pygmalion, it becomes a tool for transforming Eliza’s social identity. Higgins uses phonetics to teach her how to speak like a member of the upper class. This highlights the strong link between language and power.
This 1916 uprising became a turning point in the fight for Irish independence.
→ The Easter Rising (April 24–29, 1916) was an armed rebellion launched in Dublin by Irish republicans seeking independence from British rule during World War I. Although it lasted six days and was quickly suppressed by British forces, the execution of its leaders in the weeks that followed profoundly shifted public opinion. What had initially seemed like a failed uprising became a powerful symbol of resistance and sacrifice, helping to galvanize support for Irish independence in the years that followed.
This problem describes too many people living in small urban spaces.
→ overcrowding
→ Overcrowding became a defining feature of rapidly industrializing cities like London and Manchester. Large numbers of workers moved into cities, but housing infrastructure did not keep pace. As a result, families often lived in cramped, unsanitary conditions. These conditions contributed to disease, poverty, and growing calls for social reform.
This poet linked literature and Irish nationalism.
→ W.B. Yeats played a central role in the Irish Literary Revival, which aimed to promote Irish culture and identity. His poetry draws on mythology, folklore, and political themes to construct a national identity. He was also involved in Irish political life. His work reflects the intersection between literature and nationalism.
Name the three Brontë sisters.
Charlotte, Emily, Anne
→ The Brontë sisters were major contributors to 19th-century English literature. Their novels explore themes such as identity, emotional intensity, and the constraints placed on women. Each sister developed a distinct literary voice while challenging social expectations. Charlotte is best known for Jane Eyre, Emily for Wuthering Heights, and Anne for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Their work remains central to the study of the period.
This term refers to how lines are spoken by an actor (in a play, in a film etc): The actor's ______________(n)
→ Delivery includes tone, pace, rhythm, and emphasis in speech. It plays a crucial role in shaping how meaning is communicated to the audience. Even a well-written line can change meaning depending on delivery. It is therefore central to performance and interpretation.
This agreement (1998) helped establish peace in Northern Ireland.
→ The Good Friday Agreement marked a major step toward ending decades of conflict known as the Troubles. It established a power-sharing system between unionist and nationalist communities. The agreement required compromise and cooperation from multiple political groups. It remains a crucial foundation for peace in the region.
The expression “_________________________” refers to the global extent of the British Empire. It suggests that, because the empire spanned so many territories across different time zones, the sun was always shining on at least one part of it. This highlights the vast scale of British territorial control in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The phrase/expression “the sun never sets on the British Empire” emphasizes how vast the empire was, spanning multiple continents and time zones. It promotes an image of constant power, stability, and global presence. By focusing on size and prestige, it shifts attention away from how that empire was maintained—through military force, economic exploitation, and political control. It also ignores the resistance of colonized populations, whose experiences contradict this image of effortless dominance.
This playwright, closely associated with both Irish and French literary traditions, explored absurdity and the apparent meaninglessness of human existence.
→ Beckett
→ Samuel Beckett is associated with the Theatre of the Absurd, which reflects a post-World War II sense of disillusionment. His works often depict characters in repetitive, meaningless situations, highlighting existential uncertainty. Language in his plays frequently fails to communicate clearly. This challenges traditional expectations of narrative and meaning.
This Shaw play from 1923 reinterprets the story of Joan of Arc.
→ Saint Joan (1923) reinterprets Joan of Arc not as a passive, divinely inspired martyr, but as a rational, politically astute, and forward-thinking individual. Shaw presents her as an early nationalist and proto-Protestant figure who challenges both the authority of the Catholic Church and the feudal political order. Rather than portraying her judges as purely villainous, he depicts them as products of their time, acting within a system they believe is necessary. The play ultimately explores how societies tend to resist, condemn, and only later celebrate those who challenge established structures.
This type of theatre aims to instruct or provoke reflection.
→ Didactic theatre is designed not only to entertain but also to teach or challenge the audience. It often presents social or political ideas and encourages critical thinking. Shaw is a key example of a playwright who uses theatre in this way. His plays aim to provoke debate rather than simply tell a story.