Class Description
This class explores two Irish Christmas stories: James Joyce’s The Dead (1914), described by T. S. Eliot as “one of the greatest English-language short stories ever written,” and Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These (2021), which has become a contemporary classic. We will also discuss a movie adaptation of each story: John Huston’s The Dead (1987), starring his daughter Anjelica Huston, and Tim Mielants’ Small Things Like These (2024), starring Cillian Murphy.
Like many "Christmas stories," these two are compelling narratives of personal redemption and affirm the value of generosity and charity. But they also transcend the genre, addressing broader issues, such as social inequality, the nature of responsibility, the exploitation of women, and the dilemmas of communal and national identity. The result is two Christmas stories (and films) that are timeless but also timely in exploring the complex, sometimes dark, aspects of the societies they depict.
Michael Hennessy is an emeritus English professor who has taught writing, literature, and film at four universities. His anthology Little Poems was published by Knopf in 2023.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 18
Class Style: Mostly discussion; participation-based
Materials List
Required
- James Joyce, The Dead. Coyote Canyon Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-0979660795
- The Dead (1987). Dir. John Huston. Streaming on Tubi. Available to rent from Amazon Video and Apple TV.
- Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These. Grove Press, 2021. ISBN: 978-0802158741
- Small Things Like These (2024). Dir. Tim Mielants. Streaming on Hulu. Available to rent from Amazon Video and Apple TV.
First Reading
- Please read all of Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These prior to the first session.
A Brief Syllabus
- Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These
- Small Things Like These Movie
- James Joyce’s The Dead
- The Dead Movie
Cost and Registration
4 Sessions, $220 ($198 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($220), Community Supported ($205), and Sponsor ($235). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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