Parallels to Merlin and Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

1
Parallels to Merlin and Merlin after Geoffrey of
Monmouth

• The Lady of the Lake and Merlin as lover.

2
Merlin analogues in Brythonic tradition

• Although through the influence of Geoffrey of
  Monmouth and others Merlin became the prophet and
  magician par excellence in the Arthurian
  legend, the Celtic tradition of Britain also
  presents other interesting analogues.
• Some of the most promint names are Taliesin,
  Gwydion, Math, Lleu

3
Myrddin (Merlin), Taliesin and Gwydion

• Taliesin (Telgesinus in Geoffreys work)
• Originally a northern British bardic poet,
  associated with the kingdom of Rheged (NE
  England). Official poet of Urien Rheged and his
  son Owain as well as other chieftains in Wales.
  Perhaps he was in origin a native of Powys in mid
  Wales.
• Much of his authentic 7th century work is found
  in the Book of Taliesin.

4
Myrddin (Merlin), Taliesin and Gwydion

• In the ensuing centuries the figure of Taliesin
  assumed a semi-mythogical o role and he was seen
  as a prophet similar in some ways to Myrddin
  (Merlin).
• He is mentioned in the Mabinogion as one of those
  who escaped from Ireland with Bendigeidvran.
• He may be the narrator in the Spoils of the
  Otherworld poem which includes Arthur.

5
Myrddin (Merlin), Taliesin and Gwydion

• By the tenth and the eleventh centuries a number
  of prophetic poems are attributed to him and they
  are included in the The Book of Taliesin as well
  as the Dialogue between Myrddin and Taliesin in
  which both are described as prophecying future
  events.

6
Myrddin (Merlin), Taliesin and Gwydion

• A knowledge of this Welsh poem seems to be
  reflected in Geoffrey of Monmouths Vita Merlini
  in which Telgesinus discusses with Merlin about
  geography and natural phenomena.
• In one of the Triads Taliesin is described with
  Myrddin as one of the skilful bards at Arthurs
  court.

7
Myrddin (Merlin), Taliesin and Gwydion

• An origin tale about how Taliesin gained his
  prophetic powers is called Chwedl Taliesin.
• In this tale a boy called Little Gwion receives
  the gift of poetic inspiration (and prophecy)
  from the cauldron of Ceridwen.
• He goes through a succession of transformations
  and is finally reborn as Taliesin.

8
Taliesin

• In Welsh tradition the historical origins of
  Taliesin are never completey forgotten.
• The bardic poetry of the 12-16th centuries in
  Wales, is notable in that it consistently makes
  references to people and characters from earlier
  Brythonic tradition in Wales and Britain as a
  whole.
• In this poetry. Taliesin is frequently names with
  Merlin (Myrddin or Merddin).

9
Taliesin

• Both are seen not only as great poets of the past
  but also as prophets.
• The best example of this is the early Ymddiddan
  Myrddin a Thaliesin (The Dialogue of Merlin and
  Taliesin), which shows both as prophets whose
  knowledge taken together gave a view of the
  future of the Britons.

10
Merddin and Taliesin

• The poets are consistent in naming the two as
  ancient and historical poets. We know that
  Taliesin was indeed a real person. We know that
  the author of the Gododdin was Aneurin. The
  Historia Brittonum (Nennius) lists some of the
  ancient poets of the 7th century including
  Aneurin. It has been argued that Myrddin may have
  been one of these very early poets and that it
  was merely a question of chance that none of his
  work survived. (poet not wizzard!)

11
Gwydion

• Although Taliesin can be seen as corresponding to
  Merlin as a prophet, Gwydion is seen in a very
  different light yet he also has strong parallels
  with the Merlin described in HKB.

12
Gwydion

• Gwydion is especially associated with the Snowdon
  area of North Wales.
• The materials concerning him appear in the
  Mabinogion as well as The Black Book of
  Carmarthen.
• Gwydion is a powerful magician figure like his
  uncle Math. They belong to an extensive
  semi-divine family known as the Children of Dôn
  (compare the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland).

13
Gwydion in the Mabinogion.

• Like Merlin in HKB, Gwydion contrives a situation
  where he helps his brother (Gilfaethwy) sleep
  with the virginal Goewin, a sacred virgin
  belonging to the king Math.
• This he does by causing a war between N and S
  Wales which means that Math will leave Goewin.
• This amoral behaviour is punished later by Math.

14
Gwydion

• Math transforms Gwydion and Gilvaethwy
  successively into stag and hind, boar and sow,
  male and female wolf. Each year they must produce
  an offspring before being restored to human
  shape.
• After this period of punishment, Gwydion and Math
  (nephew and uncle) create a woman out of flowers
  for Lleu, the son of another of the family-
  Aranrhod (the father may well be her brother-
  Gwydion).

15
Gwydion

• In the course of events in the story Gwydion
  shows a remarkable ability to shapeshift, mainly
  to deceive and manipulate (compare Geoffreys
  Merlin).
• He obtains the magical pigs of Pryderi by giving
  gifts made from mushrooms etc.
• He shapeshifts himself as a storyteller, then a
  cobbler, etc.

16
Gwydion

• In the Black Book of Carmarthen text (earlier
  than the Mabinogion), Gwydion again appears and
  here he is described as turning trees into
  warriors.
• He is described also as having created the poet
  Taliesin.
• His learning is also alluded to.
• His magic staff is mentioned frequently.
• This ability is frequently demonstrated inn the
  stories about him another example concerns the
  woman who had been created from flowers
  (Blodeuwedd) who after her adultery is turned
  into an owl.

17
Gwydion-summary

• It is likely on the basis of the Mabinogion text
  and the Black Book material that a much fuller
  tradition about Gwydion existed than has come
  down to us.

18
Gwydion and Merlin

• Based on Geoffrey of Monmouth (Merlin) and the
  Mabinogion (Gwydion) we can see some points of
  similarity
• Both can shapeshift.
• Both contrive situations to help in the
  love-affairs of family (Gilvaethwy) or king
  (Uther).
• Strong associations with animals (Geoffrey
  prophecies, VM the stag Mabinogion stag, boar,
  wolf).
• Incest with sister (Gwydion and Aranrhod Merlin
  and Gwenddydd).
• Imprisonment (Gwydion as animal Merlin
  imprisoned by Viviane).

19
Merlin and GwenddyddThe woman in Merlins life.

• The Welsh medieval poets (12-16th century) make
  frequent reference to Myrddin (Merlin) in their
  work. They frequently spell his name as Merddin )
  possibly under the influence of Geoffreys work).
• Usually, they refer to his status as ancient
  poet, as prophet (especially in the 15th
  century).
• But quite frequently they also refer to him as a
  lover.

20
Merlin and Gwenddydd

• Later post-Celtic Arthurian literature will
  frequently refer to Merlins imprisonment by his
  female companion, variously called Viviane, or
  Niviane (other forms as well see later).
• She is usually seen as an otherworldly woman, the
  Demoiselle du Lac, the Damsel of the Lake or Lady
  of the Lake.
• Does this have a Celtic origin?

21
Merlin and Gwenddydd

• The theme of the female companion does not seem
  to pre-date the period of Geoffrey of Monmouth
  (12th century).
• GofM certains introduces the theme (of a sister
  and wife) in his c1150 Vita Merlini.
• As we have seen some of this material is
  paralleled in the Scottish Vita Kentigerni (by
  Joceline of Furness) and possibly the sister and
  wife elements have their origins in the Merlin
  (Wild Man) Saga from Northern Britain.

22
Merlin and Ganieda

• Geoiffrey of Monmouths Vita Merlini shows us
  Ganieda, the sister of Merlin as wife of
  Rodarchus (Rhydderch). Merlins wife (or
  former-wife) Gwendoena is not a very focused
  character and does not play an important role.
• Ganieda does. There is clearly an important
  emotional tension between the two which is
  brought out when Merlin sees a leaf in Ganiedas
  hair and laughs out. (international folk theme).

23
Merlin and Ganieda

• She tries to discredit her brother (the disguised
  boy presented three times), but fails. Who is her
  lover? Why does Merlin insist on revealing the
  adultery?
• After Rodarcus death (Rhydderch), she returns to
  the forest with Merlin and is instructed in
  prophecy by him. She is seen giving a very
  Merlin-like prophecy about the Britons at the end
  of the poem.

24
Merlin and Gwenddydd

• All the Welsh sources (the Merlin poems) date
  from 12-15th century manuscripts.
• Yet the cristalization of the Welsh saga of
  Merlin probably took shape c850-1050AD.
• This includes the significant narrative poem The
  Dialogue of Merlin and His Sister Gwenddydd.
• Reference to Gwenddydd occurs in a number of
  these poems

25
Gwenddydd

• In the Appletrees poem, we are told that Merlin
  has taken refuge in the forest, he says now
  Gwenddydd loves me not and does not greet meI
  have killed her son and her daughter-
• It is not clear from the Appletrees poem what
  Gwenddydds relationship to Myrddin is, but in
  the Dialogue of Merlin and Gwenddydd she is
  described as his sister.

26
Gwenddydd

• This poem is a long prophetic poem, in which
  Gwenddydd asks questions and Merlin answers. The
  same kind of basic narrative about Merlin seems
  to be there but there is however a striking
  difference in the changed attitude of Myrddin and
  Gwenddydd to each other.
• The relationship is now warm and friendly.
• However we regard this relationship, there are
  clues in Geoffrey that early tradtions about
  Merlins erotic past persisted

27
Gwenddydd

• In the Vita Merlini, Merlin meets with another
  madman who had lost his reason through eating
  poisoned apples which had been intended for
  Merlin himself by a woman whom he had formerly
  loved and then rejected.

28
Merlin and Viviane

• There are certainly problems with the name
  Viviane which has become a kind of norm for the
  lover of Merlin in post-Geoffrey texts.
• Yet various forms exist Viviane, Niviame,
  Niniane, Nimue, Nymenche.
• Niviane and Ninian may be connected with the word
  nef in Welsh (or nenv in Breton) meaning
  celestial.

29
Merlin and Viviane

• The name first appears in the work of Robert de
  Boron, who worked on his own Arthurian creations
  with the help of Geoffreys work. He evidently
  rejected the Ganieda (Merlins sister) from his
  version.
• Certainly Merlin in the Vita Merlini seems much
  more interested in his sister than his wife.
  (incest theme?)

30
Incest themes in Welsh medieval narrative.

• Probably the most obvious example of this motif
  (not common but nevertheless existing), is the
  presumed relationship between Gwydion and
  Aranrhod (brother and sister) and their child
  Lleu (whom the mother rejects afterwards).

31
Viviane

• If this is how Robert de Boron ( a Cistercian)
  understood Merlin and Ganieda (and from other
  sources he may have had access to), it come as no
  surprise that he writes Ganieda out of the story
  of his Merlin and introduces a new character,
  perhaps from Breton myth/legend- Viviane.
• Robert de Boron has Merlin meet the girl Viviane
  beside a fountain in the magical forest of
  Paimpol or Brocéliande.
• Viviane learns from Merlin his magic and
  prophetic abilities. (de Boron tends to emphasis
  the diabolic origins of Merlin).

32
Viviane

• Possibly Viviane (Ninian) had her origin as a
  memory of a water-goddess surviving in Brittany.
  The meeting by the fountain is in this sense
  significant.
• The name of the fountain is the fontaine de
  Barenton. In this text he also retires to the
  forest with her (comp. Gwenddydd and Myrddin in
  the Welsh versions).

33
Viviane

• Viviane is always associated with water- rivers,
  fountains and, of course, lakes.
• The first trick that Merlin teaches her is to
  make a river appear where there was none before
  (there is a river Ninian in Brittany).
• Her associations with the lake are frequent.

34
Viviane

• Merlin is clearing shown as a teacher in several
  of the narratives about him.
• In Vita Merlini he teaches Ganieda how to
  prophecy (she will become better than him and
  surplant him).
• He teaches Taliesin (VM)
• He teaches Viviane
• Mention is also make of him teaching Morgan le
  Fay (la fée).

35
Viviane

• The problem of having a major character whose
  paternity had its origns in the world of demons
  (see de Borons meeting of demons at the
  beginning of his Merlin) eventually had to lead
  to Merlins downfall.

36
Merlin in the Lancelot en prose text

• C1230
• Merlin appears to Viviane first as a young squire
  (damoiseau). He falls madly in love with her.
• To impress her, he conjures up a magical castle,
  armies, feast. He makes it all disappear the
  following day (compare Gwydion).
• All the time Viviane learns all of Merlins
  powers which she will eventually use against him.

37
Merlin in the Lancelot en prose text

• She asks if it is possible to make someone sleep
  for as long as she wants?
• Asked why she wants to know this she answers that
  she wants to make her father sleep while she lets
  Merlin into her bedroom.
• She wears a medalion which says This woman is
  more cunning than the devil while she wears it
  Merlin cannot make love to her.

38
Merlin in the Lancelot en prose text

• All the while Merlin returns to Wales (they are
  in Brittany) to attend to state matters and to
  advising Arthur.
• She finally entraps Merlin by asking if it is
  possible to create a prison from which it is
  impossible to escape without her consent.
• Merlin sees what is happening, but she says that
  if he will give her this information she will
  sleep with him.

39
Merlin in the Lancelot en prose text

• Merlin finally ends up in a prison in the air
  which is invisible to all around.
• This is discovered when Gawain comes to the
  forest of Broceliande and chances upon this
  prison which he sees as a vague mist from which
  Merlin tells of what has happened.

40
The Huth-Merlin

• Another version of Merlins imprisonment occurs
  in the 13th century text Huth-Merlin.
• This time Merlin does not meet Viviane (or
  Nivieme) by the fountain in Brittany although it
  is evident that she comes from Little Britain
  (Brittany).
• He meets her at the head of a hunting party and
  falls in love with her.

41
The Huth-Merlin

• He comes with her to Brittany but she can only
  rid herself of him by imprisoning him in a tomb
  in a cave.

42
Merlins downfall in Malory c1485

• Like the previous text Malory has Merlin fall in
  dotage on a young woman who is descibed as being
  one of the damesels of the Lady of the Lake-
  her name is Nyvere.
• He desires her very much-obsessively. They go to
  Cornwall, where Nyvere tires of Merlin and she
  contrives to have Merlin imprisoned under a great
  rock. Later in the same chapter she is called the
  Lady of the Lake. A knight tries to free him, but
  Merlin states that only she can release him from
  under the rock.

43
Merlins fate

• In the suite du merlin text, Merlin is described
  as becoming utterly infatuated with Viviane
  (later Nimue), one of the damsels of the lake.
• She eventually became tired of him and employed
  one of his magical tricks in imprison him (cave,
  tomb, oak-tree, glass house, island).

44
The glass house ty gwydrin

• The glass house with its supernatural properties
  is connected in the Triads with the legend of
  Merlin.
• However, in Welsh tradition amongst the poets
  there are variations
• Robin Ddu merlin made a house of glass for his
  beloved, and the magic properties of the house
  ensured that Myrddin and his companions remained
  invisible to their enemies.

45
The glass house ty gwydrin

• In most references in Welsh medieval poetry
  (14-16th centuries) to Merlin as lover, there are
  allusions to the glass house where he meets his
  lover.
• In later Welsh texts, it is stated that the
  Merlin had the 13 treasures of the Island of
  Britain in the glass house together with the
  throne of Arthur.

46
Merlin as lover

• The famous medieval Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym
  also refers to Merlin as a lover, saying that
  Neither Merlin nor Taliesin loved one as
  beautiful (as the object of Dafydds love). (The
  Seagull).

47
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• Subsequent writers embroidered considerably upon
  the elements popularized by Geoffrey.
• Separated from Welsh tradition and incorporated
  into the Arthurian materials.
• Chrétien de Troyes does not use him in his
  Arthurian Romances.
• Wace follows Geoffrey closely in his French verse
  translation.
• Robert de Boron (early 12th century) Merlin.

48
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The ambiance of de Borons Arthurian world is
  strongly imbued with Christian thought and custom
  (frequent reference to the Christian festivals).
• De Borons Merlin is half-devel, half-man his
  fathers hairy body, dark visage, knowledge of
  past and future events.
• Extreme precocity and perception.

49
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The Robert de Boron version of the beginnings of
  Merlin derive directly from Geoffreys HRB but
  greater imaginative power is excerted thereby
  making Merlin very much a half-man, half-devil
  figure.
• The father in fact is seen as the devil himself.
  When the child is born it is hairy and the mother
  when she sees him (Merlin) expresses her fear.
• The name Merlin is explained as being that of the
  mothers father.

50
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The child is barely 18 months old when it speaks
  to the mother telling her not to be afraid.
• His mother is taken to court (for having given
  birth to an illegitimate child) but Merlin still
  an infant speaks confidently to the judges.
• All are astonished at the childs knowledge.
• The narrative takes up the episodes found in
  Geoffrey

51
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The Britons put their confidence in Merlin after
  the death of Uterpendragon (sic)..
• Christmas is approaching and Merlin calls on
  Christ to choose the new king of Britain (the
  chosen one of God).
• Merlin predicts all that will happen to Blaise
  (his mothers confessor, who lives in
  Northumberland)

52
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The representatives of the kingdom, knights,
  clerics etc come to Logres, at Christmas.
• Logres (from the Welsh word LloegrEngland), is
  used here as a city, but usually in Continental
  sources it refers to the Kingdom of Arthurian
  Britain.
• Auctor brings his two sons Keu and the adopted
  son (Arthur-the child of Uter and Ygraine).
• A strange block of marble appears in front of the
  church, it has a sword driven into an anvil.

53
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The sword has words by Jesus indicating that
  one the one designated will be able to draw the
  sword from the anvil.
• Importance and significance of the sword.
• Arthur (a teenager) is eventually named king.
• The Festival of Pentecost. Jousting (knightly
  games). The decision to go and seek the Grail.
  Perceval (Peredur).
• Merlin says of P I knew your name before you
  were born. M. has come from Northumberland to
  speak to him.

54
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The story reconnects with the Geoffrey of
  Monmouth accounbt of Arthurs conquests and
  eventual betrayal.
• Mordret is seen as the arch-traitor who leads an
  army of Saxons.
• Arthur pursues him as far as Ireland.
• The final battle Arthur having been mortally
  wounded is taken to Avalon by Morgain his
  sister. The theme of his return is taken up (as
  in Wace).

55
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• The final mention of Merlin states that he
  cannot die before the end of time.
• He is described as retreating to the forest to
  live where he builds a feather-house. He gives
  his time over to prophecy.
• Clearly de Boron was using a source similar to
  those that developed the Merlin of the North, the
  prophet of the forest.

56
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• In later French and English versions of the
  Merlin character (see especially the Vulgate
  Merlin and the Suite du Merlin), other elements
  are brought into the story
• The sword in the stone is a popular element
• Is in charge of Arthurs fostering (as in de
  Boron)
• Involved in the creation of the Round Table (Wace)

57
Merlin after Geoffrey of Monmouth

• Creates the siege perilious
• Acts as war strategist and general
• Controls natural phenomena
• Shape-shifting (as Wild Man, male deer)
• Leads Arthur to the Lady of the Lake who gives
  him Excalibur/Caliburnus/Caledfwlch
• Creates large stone monuments (based on Geoffrey)
• Development of the lover/wife theme

58
Reviewing Myrddin-Merlin

• Early Welsh poetry
• Vita Kentigerni
• Historia Brittonum
• Historia Regum Britanniae
• Vita Merlini
• Gerald of Wales
• The poets of Medieval Wales (12-16th century)

59
Next class

• Arthur and Morgane (la fée)
• Arthur as messianic hero.