Clik here to view.
Alternative interpretations of ‘dwfn’ in Gogynfeirdd poetry, part 2
Sometimes in Gogynfeirdd poetry the word dwfn is used to describe awen, the sacred breath of bardic inspiration; when dwfn is used as an adjective in this way modern editors usually give it the meaning...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Alternative interpretations of ‘dwfn’ in Gogynfeirdd poetry, part 3
It has been suggested that Llywarch ap Llywelyn (fl. 1173-1220), or Prydydd y Moch as he is more commonly known, spent at least part of his apprenticeship under the tutelage of Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Alternative interpretations of ‘dwfn’ in Gogynfeirdd poetry, part 4
According to Marged Haycock, the Book of Taliesin poem ‘Angar Kyfundawt’ could very well have been written by Llywarch ap Llywelyn (for a full explanation see her introduction to her edition of The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Taliesin Tradition courses
I’m beginning a new online course this April called The Taliesin Tradition. It covers almost 1500 years of material, from the earliest Welsh poetry by the historic Taliesin, through to the mythic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Taliesin’s Many Meanings
While considering the next few lines of poetry the different meanings of the word dwfn should be borne in mind (see previous series of posts). In short, as an adjective it not only means ‘deep’ but...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Taliesin: Power and Politics at Court
The legendary poems from the Book of Taliesin provide us with a brief glimpse of the less formal activities of Welsh medieval court bards. Most of these poems are dramatic pieces that were very likely...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Background to the autumn audio course, part 1
This autumn I’ll be making available a Welsh Mythology home study audio course which you will be able to download from this website. In preparation I’ve put together this series of blog posts that sets...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Roland Barthes’ definition of myth
(extract from the forthcoming audio course, part 1 out in early January 2015) If, as many scholars have pointed out, The Four Branches of the Mabinogi are derived from an earlier mythology, its...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Bosworth Prophet
I’ve put a new resources page together, including some useful websites as well as a collection of pronunciation guides I recorded for a student some time ago. I’ve also included a link to a page I put...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Shakespeare’s Horns
Tonight is called Nos Galan Gaeaf in Wales, and is an ysbrydnos, or ‘spirit night’ when the dead walk abroad under the starry skies. Halloween is the most recent tradition associated with this night,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Hunting of Twrch Trwyth, Part 3
Apologies for the long delay in finishing this series on the Twrch Trwyth. We’ve moved house and had another baby in the last six months so time has been limited. But more to come over the coming year,...
View ArticleIolo Morganwg and Welsh mythology.
Today, we have far more accurate editions of old Welsh poetry and prose than ever, largely due to the growth of Welsh language university departments, sometimes with whole teams of post-graduate...
View ArticleWhat does Annwfn mean?
In the Beirdd y Tywysogion series, the editors have interpreted a line by Cynddelw in the following way: In Annwfn, in the world, in the sea – . . . This doesn’t really make much sense, which leads me...
View Article