To conduct research for this project, I developed a set of questions for scholars, professionals, and Irish family members regarding Irish rhetoric and the presence of phronesis. During scheduling and conducting interviews, some of my questions changed, partly due to my grandfather's initial interview. After interviewing my grandfather in December of 2023, I was given firm insight into the direction in which I desired to pursue my project. The role of phronesis had previously been obscured to me, but in combing through my grandfather's interview I was able to recognize some of the main themes and tenets of Irish folklore and rhetoric.
The storytelling aspect of interviews and ethnographic research is partially what drew me to this particular methodology of semi-structured interviews. In short, I desired to see phronesis in action firsthand and to account for it not only in my research and conclusions but also in my methodology. Furthermore, I discovered even deeper connections and parallels between folklore, phronesis, and my pursuit of knowledge for this project. I discovered and demonstrated the very tenets I was studying. From the digital images mirroring Aisling, to my pursuit of clarity reflecting Imbas Forosnai, the overall pursuit of knowledge and storytelling helped facilitate the cultural practices of phronesis in real-time.
What are interviews except for stories and wisdom told between the interviewer and interviewee?
Interview Questions for Professionals:
What is so defining about Irish rhetoric and folklore?
What defines Irish practical wisdom?
How is phronesis represented or practiced in Irish folklore?
What are some unique rhetorical concepts in Irish rhetoric?
Does the use of narrative in Irish rhetoric support phronesis?
What purposes does Irish rhetoric serve in everyday life?
How does traditional folklore or storytelling relate to rhetoric?
What rhetorical functions do storytelling and folklore use?
How is practical wisdom represented and transmitted in Irish rhetoric?
How influential or important is Irish poetry and writing in the oral tradition?
What is the relationship between written rhetoric and the oral tradition?
How impactful is the individual’s personality on oral literature or phronesis?
What place do Irish wit and sarcasm have in Irish rhetoric and oral traditions?
Where do you think research in Irish rhetoric and cultural practices is headed?
What is your favorite Irish folklore story?
Interview Questions for Family:
What do you define folklore as?
What kind of folklore or stories did you grow up with in Ireland?
What kind of superstitions or supernatural stories did you hear growing up?
What were your favorite, if any, Irish folklore stories that you grew up with?
What are/were your feelings or understandings of Irish folklore?
How common was it for those around you to reference certain stories in order to teach lessons?
How do you think Irish folklore has affected Irish culture?
What role does wisdom play in folklore?
To what extent is Irish folklore reflective of Irish culture?
What would you say is the practical wisdom of the Irish?
What is the purpose of practical wisdom?
Did you read stories or were they based on word of mouth?
Do you think that cultural stereotypes are reflected in Irish folklore and stories?
Do you think that Irish folklore has an impact on how people view the Irish and Irish culture?
What constitutes common knowledge or practical wisdom in Ireland?
What did you love most about growing up in Ireland?
How important do you think sharing practical wisdom is to Irish culture? Is it a regular part of our wider heritage?
What parts of Irish culture are most related to storytelling? (Be that dance, music, poetry, writing, etc.)
How did storytelling affect your perceptions of the world and of your culture?
What do you think practical Irish wisdom looks like? How is it transmitted?
Commentaires