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
Celtic vs. Anglo-Saxon lit

• 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

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 Conchobors stupidity in desiring a woman
  destined to bring death

5
Power of words in Deirdre

• Initial prediction of Deirdres beauty
• Deirdres shaming of Noisiu
• King of Alba sends words to seduce Deirdre
• pledges
• Fergus gives his pledge for Noisius life
• brothers pledge not to eat in Ireland until they
  come to Conchobor
• Fergus trapped by old oath to feast
• Deirdres oath not to be taken by two living men
• Deirdres 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