Dr. Geraldine Parsons, Senior Lecturer in Celtic and Gaelic and Head of Subject at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, lectures on “The Quiet Girls of Early Ireland: Women in Medieval Irish Literature.”
Finn Cycle, or fiannaíocht, literature was the most enduringly popular branch of Irish-language literature from the early Middle Ages until recent times. It prioritizes the exploration of male perspectives and experiences: its tales and poems present two different timelines united by the prominence of men. One is the hyper-masculine warrior culture of ancient Ireland; the other is populated by the male ecclesiastics, warriors and kings of Christian Ireland’s medieval Golden Age. The afterlives of these texts too suggest an enduring appeal among audiences typically gendered male: the oldest surviving manuscript to contain only this corpus of work was commissioned in the 1620s, by an Irish captain in the Spanish army, and written by male scribes. An association between this literature and Irish military culture, as well as the tradition of soldiery among Scottish Highlanders, continues today. Parsons’ talk will seek to complicate the gender history of the Finn Cycle, by recovering women’s roles in its production and in the narratives themselves.
Introduced by Visiting Leonard L. Milberg ’53 Professor in Irish Letters and Chair of the Fund for Irish Studies Fintan O’Toole. Part of the spring 2023 Fund for Irish Studies lecture series.
Tickets & Details
The event is free and open to the public. No advance tickets or registration required.
Get directions and find venue information for the James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street.
COVID-19 Guidance + Updates
Per Princeton University policy, all visitors are expected to be either fully vaccinated, have recently received and prepared to show proof of a negative COVID test (via PCR within 72 hours or via rapid antigen within 8 hours of the scheduled visit), or agree to wear a face covering when indoors and around others.
Accessibility
The James Stewart Film Theater is wheelchair accessible. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.
