Resources for Teachers
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.
Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845 - 1850
. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Campbell writes about the five-year famine that began in Ireland in 1845, when the potato crops were attacked by a horrific blight that destroyed the main source of food for the Irish. Campbell tells the story of the Irish, both young and old, whose perseverance and beliefs during this hardship influence their understanding of why this blight has occurred. The book is divided into 10 chapters, including a map of the Irish counties and ports, a timeline, bibliography, and index.
Gantz, Jeffrey.
Early Irish Myths and Sagas.
England: Penguin, 1983. This is geared toward the scholar of Irish Literature. The book is comprised of myths and sagas first told during the 8th century AD. These are the first written translations of oral stories originally told by the Irish centuries before Christ. Introduction, bibliography, and index are included.
Herr, Cheryl.
The Field
. Ireland: Cork University Press, 2002. The initial chapter is a short biography of the playwright, John B. Keane, who wrote The Field in 1965. The remaining two chapters discusses film techniques, motivating factors for particular scenes, and includes a short biography of Jim Sheridan and his directorial techniques used while filming this movie. Also, there are several black and white illustrations / photographs as well as a bibliography.
Jostens. Folk Tales. Jostens Learning Cooperation, 1991. Excellent teacher’s resource for understanding the characteristics of the folktale as a genre. Also provides detailed lesson plans on how to teach students how to write their own folktale.
Jostens. Writing Poetry. Jostens Learning Cooperation, 1991. Excellent teacher’s resource for understanding the characteristics of poetry as a genre. Also provides detailed lesson plans on how to teach students how to write and analyze poetry.
McLoone, Martin.
Irish Film: The Emergence of a Contemporary Cinema
. London: British Film Institute, 2000. The author discusses the historical, cultural, political, and societal influences on the eventual emergence of Irish Film. McLoone delves into the cinematic world of Irish film and writes about the formation of Ireland’s first film culture, prevalent themes / issues existent within these films, short films, and the European influence on the Irish film culture.
O’Faolain, Sean.
The Story of the Irish People.
New York: Avenel Books, 1982. The author tells the story of the Irish people and the societal and historical influences that helped develop them as a civilization. This is an excellent resource if one already has an understanding of the Irish culture.
Spencer, Shannon.
Countries of the World: Ireland.
Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2000. Comprehensive resource that encompasses all aspects of Ireland’s culture: festivals, government, economy, maps, etc. Spencer’s book is a suitable resource for students, as well as teachers, because it is well written, concise and very informative. Includes a great selection of photographs from both past and present Ireland.
Walker, Brian.
Faces of Ireland: 1875 - 1925, A Photographic and Literary Picture of the Past.
New York: Amaryllis Press, 1984. Excellent source for black and white photographs of Ireland.
Yeats, W.B.
Fairy and Folk Tales of Ireland.
New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1983. Compilation of folktales from the latter part of the 19th century. This is an excellent reference for the traditional tales of fairies, leprechauns, and other mythical Irish characters. Not suitable for children but excellent to understand where the children's tales originated.
Resources for Students
Allison, Jonathon.
Poetry for Young People: William Butler Yeats.
New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 2002. Although Yeats may be considered unsuitable for children because of the difficulty in interpreting his poetry, Allison successfully makes it possible to introduce children to the poetry of a Nobel Laureate. For each poem there is a painted illustration, a preface providing background information to the child, and a footnote glossary.
DePaola, Tomie.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale.
New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1992. Picture book about an Irish man who makes a deal with a leprechaun because he is too lazy to work in the potato field to support his family. Wonderful resource to introduce children to the Irish folktales and the magic of these legends; the children can relate to both DePaolo’s works and the theme of the story.
Lattimore, Deborah Nourse.
The Sailor Who Captured the Sea: A Story of the Book of Kells.
New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Fourth grade reading level and suitable for independent reading. There are three different tales; the first is about a young artist, the second about a Scottish king who needs to rescue his sons from the Queen of the Fairies, and the third is a tale about ghosts, knights, and a beautiful maiden.
MacManus, Seamus.
Favorite Irish Folktales.
New York:” Dover Publications, Inc., 1999. Compilation of 15 folktales that are geared for young adults. However, they are suitable for younger children as an oral and guided reading experience. There is a rendition of the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin that most children are already familiar with.
San Souci.
Brave Margaret.
New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2002. Margaret is a spirited young woman whose bravery enables her to slay the monster, defend herself against the sorceress, and save her own life and that of her true love. Children love the story because, unlike most tales, the heroine is a young woman. Brave Margaret also captures the essence of Irish folktales through the author’s use of the magical and mystical.
Films
The Field.
Dir. Jim Sheridan.
With Richard Harris and Sean Bean, 1990. A film about the impact of socialization and modern influences on Ireland’s rural / agricultural community.
Into the West.
Dir. Mike Newel.
With Gabriel Byrne and Ellen Barkin, 1992. Tale about two young motherless boys who journey into western Ireland with the help of a magical horse in search of a better life.
The Secret of Roan Inish.
Dir. John Sayles.
With Jeni Courtney and Pat Slowey.
Columbia Tri-Star, 1994. Story about a young girl who has been sent to her Grandparents’ house after tragedy has struck her family. She is enthralled by the mystical tales her grandfather tells her; she, herself, experiences the magic of Ireland much to the dismay of her grandmother and other villagers.
The Quiet Man.
Dir. John Ford.
With John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, 1952. A former boxer returns to his native Ireland to escape his past and America’s inferno: modernization and industrialization. Sean Thornton is seeking solace within Ireland’s lavish lands and mythical heritage.
Websites
http://www.imdb.com. Internet Movie Data Base. Excellent source for information pertaining to an array of genre and films, especially international cinema. Provides a plot summary as well as pertinent information regarding filming locale, directors, casting, producers, reviews, and distribution.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/irelandhistory/1998.html#ten. Informative and comprehensive website offering historical facts about Ireland.
movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/i/into_west.html. A detailed review of the film
Into the West
.
www.compleatseanbean.com/field. A detailed review of
The Field
. Contains important information regarding the geographical setting of the film.
www.irishfestivals.net/selkies. Provides useful detailed information regarding the legend of the selkies.
www.filmsite.org/westernfilms.html. Resource for understanding the American Western as its own unique genre; also mentions the most significant American Westerns to be directed and produced.