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Analysing Colm Tóibín's Novel Brooklyn and Selected Short

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Analysing Colm Tóibín's Novel Brooklyn and Selected Short DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „Analysing Colm Tóibín’s Novel Brooklyn and Selected Short Stories of Mothers and Sons for the Purposes of Teaching in the EFL Classroom“ Verfasserin Julia Schwaninger angestrebter akademischer Grad Magistra der Philosophie (Mag.phil.) Wien, 2011 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 190 344 347 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Lehramtsstudium: UF Englisch UF Französisch Betreuer: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz Wöhrer Declaration of Authenticity I confirm to have conceived and written this Diploma Thesis (Diplomarbeit) in English all by myself. Quotations from other authors are all clearly marked and acknowledged in the bibliographical references, either in the footnotes or within the text. Any ideas borrowed and/or passages paraphrased from the works of other authors have been truthfully acknowledged and identified in the footnotes. Hinweis Diese Diplomarbeit hat nachgewiesen, dass die betreffende Kandidatin oder der betreffende Kandidat befähigt ist, wissenschaftliche Themen selbstständig sowie inhaltlich und methodisch vertretbar zu bearbeiten. Da die Korrekturen der/des Beurteilenden nicht eingetragen sind und das Gutachten nicht beiliegt, ist daher nicht erkenntlich mit welcher Note diese Arbeit abgeschlossen wurde. Das Spektrum reicht von sehr gut bis genügend. Die Habilitierten des Instituts für Anglistik und Amerikanistik bitten diesen Hinweis bei der Lektüre zu beachten. Foreword I would like to use the foreword to express my gratitude to a number of people who inspired, helped and supported me during the time when writing on my diploma thesis. Primarily, I would like to sincerely thank my supervisor Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz Wöhrer for his inspiration, encouragement and assistance. My interest in analysing Colm Tóibín‟s literature, short stories and novels, arose in the various literature courses I have taken at university, especially with him. First, the course “Extra-Marital Love Affairs as a Theme in English Literature. From the Middle Ages to the Present” gave me an overview of the key issues when analysing literature from different epochs and various genres. Then, the course “Cross-Cultural Encounters: Varieties of Immigrants‟ Experiences as Presented in Contemporary Anglophone Fiction” dealt with, among other things, short stories and novels written between the mid-20th century and the present and the cross-cultural encounters and experiences of immigrants to England, America, Britain and other countries from within the English-speaking world. Another literature course I attended called “„Irishness‟ - Features of Irish Identity in Contemporary Irish Fiction” dealt with contemporary Irish authors and the various aspects of Irish life, history, society, religion, myth and the cultural heritage. These courses have evoked my interest in both cross-cultural literature, and the aspect of “Irish national identity”. Further, I attended “Teachers‟ Stories - Stories for Teaching” treating contemporary short stories by American, English and Irish writers, which did not only provide me as a future teacher with a large amount of teaching material, but also portrayed different didactic skills and classroom situations in short stories, which had an influence on my diploma thesis. I have decided to write my diploma thesis on this special topic and to combine it with the teaching aspect because during my work as a private tutor, I have experienced the lack of interest in literature among my students. Moreover, the course “„Doing‟ Literature in the EFL Classroom” by Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Susanne Reichl has inspired me concerning the theory and practice aspect when teaching literature in the EFL classroom - many thanks go to her as well. I would also like to acknowledge the support of my friends and thank my family for their help and encouragement. Table of Contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................1 2. Teaching a Novel/ Short Story in the EFL Context ................................................4 2.1 Cross-cultural Teaching and Learning in the EFL Classroom- the CEFR and the National Curriculum ..................................................................................................4 2.2 Pedagogical Options when Using a Novel/ Short Story in the EFL Classroom......6 2.2.1 Benefits and Possible Drawbacks of Reading and Teaching a Novel in the EFL Context ...........................................................................................................6 2.2.2 Benefits and Possible Drawbacks of Reading and Teaching a Short Story in the EFL Context .....................................................................................................7 2.3 “Pre-reading”, “While-reading” and “Post-reading Activities” .............................9 3. Colm Tóibín‟s Novel Brooklyn .............................................................................. 15 3.1 General Information about the Author and his Works ......................................... 15 3.2 Plot .................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Setting and Background ..................................................................................... 17 3.3.1 Setting: Place ............................................................................................... 18 3.3.2 Setting: Time and Background ..................................................................... 20 3.4 Narrative Technique ........................................................................................... 25 3.5 Characters and Characterisation ......................................................................... 27 3.5.1 The Irish: Eilis Lacey................................................................................... 27 3.5.2 The Irish: Rose Lacey .................................................................................. 33 3.5.3 The Irish: Mrs Lacey ................................................................................... 34 3.5.4 The Italian in America: Tony, his Family and Other Characters ................... 35 3.5.5 The Older Irish Generation in America: Father Flood and Mrs Kehoe .......... 38 3.5.6 The Older and Younger Irish Generation in America: The Lodgers.............. 40 3.5.7 Minor Characters ......................................................................................... 41 3.6 Themes and Motifs ............................................................................................ 44 3.6.1 Features of „Irishness‟, „Irishness‟ in America ............................................. 44 3.6.2 Features of „Italianness‟, „Italianness‟ in America ........................................ 47 3.6.3 Features of „Americanness‟ ......................................................................... 50 3.6.4 Death and Bereavement ............................................................................... 53 3.6.5 Love, Marriage and Divorce ........................................................................ 55 3.6.6 Journey and Homesickness .......................................................................... 57 3.7 Approaches to Teaching Colm Tóibín‟s Novel Brooklyn and the Cross-cultural Teaching and Learning Aspect in the EFL Classroom .............................................. 59 4. Colm Tóibín‟s Short Story A Priest in the Family ................................................ 77 4.1 Plot .................................................................................................................... 77 4.2 Setting and Background ..................................................................................... 77 4.3 Narrative Technique ........................................................................................... 79 4.4 Characters and Characterisation ......................................................................... 82 4.5 Themes and Motifs ............................................................................................ 86 4.5.1 Features of „Irishness‟.................................................................................. 86 4.5.2 Ageing and Loneliness................................................................................. 88 4.6 Approaches to Teaching Colm Tóibín‟s Short Story A Priest in the Family and the Cross-cultural Teaching and Learning Aspect in the EFL Classroom ....................... 90 5. Colm Tóibin‟s Short Story A Summer Job ......................................................... 105 5.1 Plot .................................................................................................................. 105 5.2 Setting and Background ................................................................................... 105 5.3 Narrative Technique ......................................................................................... 106 5.4 Characters and Characterisation ....................................................................... 108 5.5 Themes and Motifs .......................................................................................... 111 5.5.1 Features of „Irishness‟................................................................................ 111 5.6 Approaches to Teaching Colm Tóibín‟s Short Story A Summer Job and the Cross- cultural Teaching and Learning Aspect in the EFL Classroom ............................... 112 6. Conclusion ..........................................................................................................
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