For Junior Cycle Higher Level Irish T2, you must study at least one prescribed short story (gearrscéal) across second and third year. The literature response is examined only at Higher Level, not at Ordinary Level.
Prescribed Stories and Course Rules
Select at least one prescribed short story (gearrscéal) with your teacher; first-year stories cannot be reused.
| Teideal (Title) | Údar (Author) |
|---|---|
| An Cluiche Mór | Ógie Ó Céilleachair |
| Spás | Mícheál Ó Ruairc |
| M’Asal Beag Dubh | Pádraic Ó Conaire |
| Fionn agus an Fathach | Jacqueline de Brún |
| Mar a fuair Cú Chulainn a ainm | Máirtín Mac Grianna |
| Dubh agus Bán | Majella Ní Dhomhnaill |
| Cor | Ré Ó Laighléis |
| An Eochair | Jackie Mac Donncha |
- In CBA 1 (Punann Teanga), at least one submitted piece must use a prescribed literary text as a stimulus.
- In CBA 2 (Ag Idirghníomhú trí Ghaeilge), you may choose your prescribed short story for your spoken task.
Choose What the Question Needs
Higher Level exam questions assess personal and communicative responses. Match your format and tone directly to the prompt.
- Write from the character's viewpoint if requested.
- Answer the prompt directly rather than retelling the plot.
| Gné (Element) | Treoir (Guidance) |
|---|---|
| Teideal & Údar | State title and author accurately. |
| Suíomh | Name setting and period. |
| Carachtair | Support each trait with an event (Tréith + Sampla). |
| Téama | Identify the core theme (e.g. saoirse, crógacht). |
| Mothúcháin | Name key emotions (e.g. brón, dóchas). |
| Buaicphointe | Highlight the decisive climax. |
| Do Thuairim | Give personal views using Dar liom. |
Use the copula is for identity (Is déagóir í Pádraigín) and bí for states (Tá sí faoi bhrú).
Prescribed Story Examples
Revise your class’s chosen prescribed story.
An Cluiche Mór (Ógie Ó Céilleachair)
- Setting: Páirc an Chrócaigh during an All-Ireland hurling final.
- An Scéalaí: A brave (cróga) corner-back playing shortly after his father's funeral.
- An Súilleabhánach: A malicious rival who mocks the narrator's deceased father.
- Turning point: The narrator rattles him with winks until he retaliates and is sent off.
- Climax: The exhausted narrator scores the winning point, feeling his father's spiritual guidance.
- Themes: Bravery (crógacht), loss (caillteanas), and resilience.
Spás (Mícheál Ó Ruairc)
- Setting: A classroom, with memories of home and her grandmother's house.
- Príomhcharachtar: Pádraigín is a thoughtful teenager (machnamhach) facing constant pressure.
- After Peadar is born, Pádraigín must share her bedroom with Aoife.
- Her parents stop her writing to Diarmaid.
- Climax: She stops crying and makes a firm decision (rún daingean) to write to her grandmother.
- Themes: Freedom (saoirse), pressure (brú), and personal space (féinspás).
Key terms
- Gearrscéal
- A short fictional prose story with a focused plot.
- Téacs dualgais
- A compulsory text chosen from the prescribed syllabus list.
- Príomhcharachtar
- The central character in a story.
- Suíomh
- The place and time in which a story happens.
- Buaicphointe
- The climax: the moment of greatest tension or intensity.
- Téama
- A central idea explored in a story.
- Freagra pearsanta
- A personal opinion supported by textual evidence.
Check yourself
Cé mhéad gearrscéal forordaithe nach mór do dhalta T2 a chlúdach?
Gearrscéal amháin ar a laghad.
Tabhair tréith amháin de chuid Phádraigín sa ghearrscéal 'Spás' agus tabhair sampla di.
Tá sí diongbháilte: socraíonn sí scríobh chuig Mamó chun saoire a iarraidh.
Cén buaicphointe a tharlaíonn ag deireadh 'An Cluiche Mór'?
Scórálann an scéalaí an cúilín cinniúnach in am cúitimh chun an cluiche ceannais a bhuachan.
Cén riachtanas litríochta a bhaineann le MRB 1?
Caithfear téacs forordaithe a úsáid mar spreagadh do phíosa amháin.