Three Welsh Romances: Difference between revisions
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==Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain== |
==Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain== |
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'''''Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain''''' |
'''''Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain''''' is analogous to [[Chrétien de Troyes]]' [[Old French]] poem ''[[Yvain, the Knight of the Lion]]''. It survives in the [[White Book of Rhydderch]] and the [[Red Book of Hergest]], both from the 14th century. |
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The tale's hero, [[Ywain|Owain]], is based on the historical figure [[Owain mab Urien]]. The romance consists of a hero marrying his love, the Lady of the Fountain, but losing her when he neglects her for knightly exploits. With the aid of a lion he saves from a serpent, he finds a balance between his marital and social duties and rejoins his wife. |
The tale's hero, [[Ywain|Owain]], is based on the historical figure [[Owain mab Urien]]. The romance consists of a hero marrying his love, the Lady of the Fountain, but losing her when he neglects her for knightly exploits. With the aid of a lion he saves from a serpent, he finds a balance between his marital and social duties and rejoins his wife. |
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It was once thought ''Owain'' and ''Yvain'' were derived from a common lost source, but it now seems more likely that ''Owain'' was directly or indirectly based on Chrétien's poem, with local literary touches added to appeal to a Welsh audience. It is possible, however, that Chrétien had a [[Celt|Celtic]] source, evidence of which can be found in certain episodes in the ''Life of [[St. Mungo]]'' (also called St. Kentigern), where the saint's father Owain tries to woo his mother, [[Lot of Lothian]]'s daughter. The episodes are similar enough to ''Yvain'' to suggest an oral tradition that inspired the hagiography and the [[French language|French]] and [[Welsh language|Welsh]] romances. |
It was once thought ''Owain'' and ''Yvain'' were derived from a common lost source, but it now seems more likely that ''Owain'' was directly or indirectly based on Chrétien's poem, with local literary touches added to appeal to a Welsh audience. It is possible, however, that Chrétien had a [[Celt|Celtic]] source, evidence of which can be found in certain episodes in the ''Life of [[St. Mungo]]'' (also called St. Kentigern), where the saint's father Owain tries to woo his mother, [[Lot of Lothian]]'s daughter. The episodes are similar enough to ''Yvain'' to suggest an oral tradition that inspired the hagiography and the [[French language|French]] and [[Welsh language|Welsh]] romances. |
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==Geraint and Enid== |
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'''''Geraint and Enid''''', also known by the title '''''Geraint, son of Erbin''''' is analogous to [[Chrétien de Troyes]]' 12th-century poem ''[[Erec and Enide]]''; some scholars think the two derive from a common lost source, while others believe ''Geraint'' is based directly or indirectly on ''Erec'' (though Chrétien may have had a Celtic source). It survives in the [[White Book of Rhydderch]] and the [[Red Book of Hergest]], both from the 14th century. |
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The romance concerns the love of [[Geraint]], one of [[King Arthur]]'s men, and the beautiful [[Enide|Enid]]. Geraint, son of King [[Erbin of Dumnonia]], courts Enid. The couple marry and settle down together, but rumors spread that Geraint has gone soft. Upset about this, Enid cries to herself that she is not a true wife for keeping her husband from his chivalric duties, but Geraint misunderstands her comment to mean she has been unfaithful to him. He makes her join him on a long and dangerous trip and commands her not to speak to him. Enid disregards this command several times to warn her husband of danger. Several adventures follow that prove Enid's love and Geraint's fighting ability. The couple is happily reconciled in the end, and Geraint inherits his father's kingdom. |
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Enid does not appear in Welsh sources outside of this romance, but Geraint was already a popular figure. Some scholars hold that the [[Erec]] from Chrétien's poem is based on Geraint, but others think the Welsh author simply replaced an unfamiliar French name with one his audience would recognize and associate with heroism. |
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[[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]] based two of his ''[[Idylls of the King]]'' on ''Geraint and Enid''. They were originally published as a single poem called "Enid" in 1859; he later split it into two poems, "The Marriage of Geraint" and "Geraint and Enid". |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*{{cite journal |last=Aronstein |first=Susan |title=When Arthur Held Court in Caer Llion: Love, Marriage, and the Politics of Centralization in ''Gereint'' and ''Owein'' |journal=Viator |volume=25 |year=1994 |pages=215–28 }} |
*{{cite journal |last=Aronstein |first=Susan |title=When Arthur Held Court in Caer Llion: Love, Marriage, and the Politics of Centralization in ''Gereint'' and ''Owein'' |journal=Viator |volume=25 |year=1994 |pages=215–28 }} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{wikisource|The Mabinogion/The Lady of The Fountain|The Lady of the Fountain}} |
{{wikisource|The Mabinogion/The Lady of The Fountain|The Lady of the Fountain}} |
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{{wikisource|The Mabinogion/Geraint the Son of Erbin|Geraint the Son of Erbin}} |
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[[Category:Medieval Welsh literature]] |
[[Category:Medieval Welsh literature]] |
Revision as of 09:26, 30 April 2010
The Three Welsh Romances (Y Tair Rhamant in Welsh) are three tales associated with the Mabinogion. They are versions of Arthurian tales that also appear in the work of Chrétien de Troyes. Critics have debated whether the Welsh Romances are based on Chrétien's poems or if they derive from a shared original. Though it seems probable the surviving Romances derive, directly or indirectly, from Chrétien, it is probable he in turn based his tales on older, Celtic sources. The Romances survive in the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest, both from the fourteenth century, though the material is at least as old as Chrétien.
The Three Welsh Romances are:
- Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain; which corresponds to Chrétien's Yvain, the Knight of the Lion
- Peredur, son of Efrawg, which corresponds to Chrétien's Perceval, the Story of the Grail
- Gereint and Enid, which corresponds to Chrétien's Erec and Enide.
Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain
Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain is analogous to Chrétien de Troyes' Old French poem Yvain, the Knight of the Lion. It survives in the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest, both from the 14th century.
The tale's hero, Owain, is based on the historical figure Owain mab Urien. The romance consists of a hero marrying his love, the Lady of the Fountain, but losing her when he neglects her for knightly exploits. With the aid of a lion he saves from a serpent, he finds a balance between his marital and social duties and rejoins his wife.
It was once thought Owain and Yvain were derived from a common lost source, but it now seems more likely that Owain was directly or indirectly based on Chrétien's poem, with local literary touches added to appeal to a Welsh audience. It is possible, however, that Chrétien had a Celtic source, evidence of which can be found in certain episodes in the Life of St. Mungo (also called St. Kentigern), where the saint's father Owain tries to woo his mother, Lot of Lothian's daughter. The episodes are similar enough to Yvain to suggest an oral tradition that inspired the hagiography and the French and Welsh romances.
Geraint and Enid
Geraint and Enid, also known by the title Geraint, son of Erbin is analogous to Chrétien de Troyes' 12th-century poem Erec and Enide; some scholars think the two derive from a common lost source, while others believe Geraint is based directly or indirectly on Erec (though Chrétien may have had a Celtic source). It survives in the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest, both from the 14th century.
The romance concerns the love of Geraint, one of King Arthur's men, and the beautiful Enid. Geraint, son of King Erbin of Dumnonia, courts Enid. The couple marry and settle down together, but rumors spread that Geraint has gone soft. Upset about this, Enid cries to herself that she is not a true wife for keeping her husband from his chivalric duties, but Geraint misunderstands her comment to mean she has been unfaithful to him. He makes her join him on a long and dangerous trip and commands her not to speak to him. Enid disregards this command several times to warn her husband of danger. Several adventures follow that prove Enid's love and Geraint's fighting ability. The couple is happily reconciled in the end, and Geraint inherits his father's kingdom.
Enid does not appear in Welsh sources outside of this romance, but Geraint was already a popular figure. Some scholars hold that the Erec from Chrétien's poem is based on Geraint, but others think the Welsh author simply replaced an unfamiliar French name with one his audience would recognize and associate with heroism.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson based two of his Idylls of the King on Geraint and Enid. They were originally published as a single poem called "Enid" in 1859; he later split it into two poems, "The Marriage of Geraint" and "Geraint and Enid".
References
Further reading
- Aronstein, Susan (1994). "When Arthur Held Court in Caer Llion: Love, Marriage, and the Politics of Centralization in Gereint and Owein". Viator. 25: 215–28.
- Fulton, Helen (2001). "Individual and Society in Owein/Yvain and Gereint/Erec". In Joseph Falaky Nagy (ed.). CSANA Yearbook 1: The Individual in Celtic Literatures. Dublin: Four Courts Press. pp. 15–50.
- Thomson, R.L. (1991). "Owain: Chwedl Iarlles y Ffynnon". In Rachel Bromwich, A. O. H. Jarman and Brynley F. Roberts (ed.). The Arthur of the Welsh: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. pp. 159–69.
See also