Celtic literature

1. Celtic literature Medieval oral tradition the “Deirdre” story or “Exile of the Sons of Uisliu”

2. Celtic literary traditions • Found in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Britanny (northwestern France) where Celtic languages spoken • oral rather than written literature • poetry and song rather than prose • ultimate origin of the Arthur story

3. Differencess lots of supernatural “magic of words” curses, predictions, shamings, blessings woman warrior (before motherhood) deception as leadership strategy Similarities importance of family ties loyalty to king tribal social structure and tribal rivalries oaths--good guys keep them Celtic vs. Anglo-Saxon lit

4. Note in the “Deirdre” story • Deirdre is a blonde • (hence probably descended from Norse invaders and marked as “evil,” “other,” and yet still desirable • Noisiu is dark-haired, pale-skinned, and blue-eyed--classic Celtic coloring • Note Conchobor’s stupidity in desiring a woman destined to bring death

5. Power of words in “Deirdre” • Initial prediction of Deirdre’s beauty • Deirdre’s “shaming” of Noisiu • King of Alba sends words to seduce Deirdre • pledges • Fergus gives his pledge for Noisiu’s life • brothers pledge not to eat in Ireland until they come to Conchobor • Fergus trapped by old oath to feast • Deirdre’s oath not to be taken by two living men • Deirdre’s answering in song

6. Poetic devices in “Deirdre” • Poem functions as a historical repository • sexual desire expressed in animal metaphors Deirdre as “heifer” and Noisiu as a “bull”; Deirdre as “ewe” and Conchobor and Eogan as “rams.” • alternate long poetic lines retelling story and short lines of speech and song