Origins of the Welsh literature Flashcards
Earliest Welsh poetry
When did Welsh literature begin?
6th century
Two essential features of the Welsh literature:
antiquity (same themes throught times),
central theme of praise
Explain antiquity as the main feature of Welsh lit.
Same themes throughout times
(antiquity)
Explain central theme of praise as the main feature of Welsh lit.
Continuity of the central theme of prase & glorifying
later on also in Anglo-Saxon poetry
(central theme of praise)
Often repeated names in Welsh literature
Angharad, Rhiannon
“Hengerdd” is composed of two words:
Hen - old
Cerdd - song/poem
Welsh lit. is one of the oldest vernacular lits. in Europe
Explain the term vernacular
Vernacular -in the language that is native to the region, rather spoken than written, the term usually describes local languages, dialects (distinct from the “standard” lg)
Basically vernacular = local language
Bardic tradition:
-ancient
-common to the Celtic ppl
-incorporating Indo-European elements
Two greatest poets in Welsh lit:
Talesin (king’s poet)
Aneirin (younger, warriors’ poet)
Earliest Welsh literature:
Early heroic poetry (epic tales)
Two stages of the early heroic poetry:
Heroic age, The Old North
When did the heroic age take place?
In the post-Roman Britain
(400-650 AD), max 1000
The heroic age also includes:
The Age of saints (where most important Irish & Welsh stories of saints were written down)
What caused the decline of heroic literature?
The decline began in the 7 th century -Celts were constantly being defeated by Sexons (nothing to boast about)
What came after the Heroic age?
The Old North (Yr Hen Ogledd)
Characterise the Old North
-earliest Welsh poetry linguistically (not geographically)
-The Old North = Cumbria = the lake district
Kingdoms in the Old North:
-Gododdin (centre at Edinburgh)
-Rheged (Solway estuary)
-Strathclyde = Ystrad Clud (Clyde estuary)
Which Old North kingdom survived the longest?
Strathclyde (Ystrad Clud)
-Clyde estetuary
Explain Cumbric
Cumbric was closely related ot Welsh, died out in the 12 th century
Heroic poetry is also called…
Praise poetry
What’s a panegyric?
Panegyric is a formal public speech (later written verse) of high praise, highly studied. Only by educated people, hard to write
What’s an eulogy?
Eulogy is a speech/writing in praise of a person/thing especially after one’s death (nowadays: funeral services). They can also praise a living person (on birthdays etc.), could have criticisms (+funny remarks)
What’s an elegy?
Elegies are written in tribute to the dead, cannot be in any way critical
Elegy in Welsh:
Marwnad
Marw - dead
Difference in between eulogy and elegy
Euology can praise a living person and be slightly critical.
Elegy is only about dead people +nice:)
Who came first, Talesin or Aneirin?
Talesin
Where were both Talesin & Aneirin named?
(book)
Nennius’
“Historia Brittonum”
When did Talesin flourish?
late 6th century
Dzieła powiązane z Taliesinem (3):
-“Llyfr Taliesin” (the book of..)
-“Canu Taliesin” (poem)
-“Hanes Taliesin” (history of..)
What was Llyfr Taliesin?
Llyfr Taliesin brings together all his poems (12), it was passed down for 8 centuries (written in 14th.c.) Also includes other various poems
(manuskrypt)
(The book of Taliesin)
What was Canu Taliesin?
It was preserved in the Llyfr Taliesin (14th c.), 12 poems of the late 6th century:
A Panegyric to a king of Powys
What was Hanes Taliesin?
Opowiadanie mitologiczne (not the same guy)
-shows Taliesin more as like a magician, not a poet: highly mythological, reincarnation, he’s the son of a goddess, prophet etc.
Written 9/10 c.
Who was the ideal ruler in Taliesin’s poetry?
Urien (of) Rheged
Taliesin’s poetry:
The ideal is two-fold in a leader…
A leader must become balanced between ferocity (leading warriors & winning) and generosity towards his people
What was the principal function of the court poet?
To compose an elegy (marwnad) on the death of his lord
-“Death song of Owen ab Urien” -Taliesin
Mnemotechnic means……..
Repetition of the same constonants, makes it easier to repeat & remember, rhymes
Alliteration -meaning:
Repeating the same sound at the beginning of several words in close successions
(assonance / consonance)
Cechy poezji Taliesina:
-poems are short, concision of style, taut phraseology
-no plot (only discriptions), visual details, kind of like a war report
-internal & external rhyme
When did Aneirin (Neirin) flourish?
Latter part of the 6th century (younger than Taliesin)
What differenciates Taliesin’s & Aneirin’s subject topics?
Taliesin wrote about a king/kings
Aneirin wrote about warriors
Aneirin’s poem:
Y Gododdin
Where is Y Gogoggin preserved?
In the Book of Aneirin (Llywr Aneirin)
-c. 1265
Describe Y Gododdin by Aneirin:
loose form, 1000 lines, short rhyming stanzas (zwrotki) -each one is a seperate unit, shifting perspectives of the same battle, no proper story, inner & end rhyme
How do we call early poets in Welsh literature?
Cynfeirdd
cyn -before, beirdd - bard
What happened in the 8th century?
No Welsh literature -nothing to boast about (no heroic poetry found)
Canu Taliesin is a part of…
Llyfr Taliesin
Cynghanned
Harmony, sound-chiming within a verse, alliteration, fully developed in the 12th century
Taliesin’s panagyric:
“Urien Yrechwydd”
Explain “Urien Yrechwydd” by Taliesin
A panagyric, about the Urien of Rheged, king of kings, pagan elements, though Urien is Christian
Taliesin’s elegy:
“Marwnad Owain”
Explain “Marwnad Owain”:
Elegy of Owain (Urien’s son), great warrior, invoction to God, English are worthy opponents (unusual)
Two Taliesin’s poems that escribe battles:
Gwaith Argoed Llyfain,
Gwaith Gwen Ystrad
Pan-Celtic idea is…
The idea that all Celts should come together against the English
What did Aneirin write?
“Y Gododdin”
What was “Gododdin”?
Tribe, kingdom and the battle that took place there
Explain “Y Gododdin” by Aneirin:
Describes a battle (probably Edinburgh), feast, mead, fight until victory or death, HEROIC POETRY, praise elements
“Armes Prydein Vawr” -explain:
annonymous, but included in Llyfr Taliesin, 10th century, political propaganda, prophecy poem
“Edmyg Dinbych” -explain:
annonymous, but included in Llyfr Taliesin, mentions magical manuscripts
“Pais Dynogad” -explain:
a lullaby sung by Dynogad’s mom
What were the old bards called?
Cynfeirdd
Name a panagyric:
Taliesin’s “Urien Yrechwydd”
Name an elegy:
Taliesin’s “Marwnad Owain”
