Three Welsh Romances: Difference between revisions

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.