THIS weekend Silas Marner, the lonely character created by George Eliot, will be under the microscope at a lecture in the Teachers' Centre in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra. A literary afternoon on Saturday has been organised by the Association of Teachers of English. Members of the association, and non-members who wish to join for a £3 admission charge, are all invited to attend.

Starting at 2.30 pm Dr Margaret Kelleher, of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, will provide an appraisal of the novel both in its historical context and in the light of recent textual and feminist criticism.