An Introduction to Welsh Literature

Overview 

Wales can boast one of the most diverse, unique, and perhaps even the oldest body of medieval literature in Europe. This course will survey the breadth of the whole corpus of literature with its origin in Wales, prose and poetry, in Welsh and Latin. Over ten weeks, this course will take you on a fascinating journey and introduce you to many of Wales' most prominent bards, poets and writers - giving an overview of some of the main themes and forms of Welsh literature over 1000 years and more. The sessions will use poems and pieces of prose as a door to open a discussion about the work, the poet, history and society. From the ‘pre-history’ of Welsh literature and pan-Celtic connections, the Books of Aneurin and Taliesin, the Hengerdd and Mabinogi, to Dafydd ap Gwilym and the Cywyddwyr.

Programme 

During the course, learners will study the following:

• Week 1: What is Welsh literature? The first week will discuss the ‘pre-history’ of Welsh literature, discussing such things as possible pan-Celtic connections, such as the ‘institution’ of the bard, to evidence for early written Welsh before the Old Welsh period.
• Week 2: All about Aneirin. This week will survey the contents of the Book of Aneirin and the possible historical context for the work therein.
• Week 3: Tackling Taliesin. This week will discuss the contents of the Book of Taliesin, both the poetry which may date to his lifetime and the material which is later and supernatural written in his voice.
• Week 4: The rest of the Hengerdd. This week will discuss the rest of material which is probably to be dated before the eleventh century but is not attributed to Aneirin and Taliesin.
• Week 5: The Welsh Latin tradition: This week will discuss the Historia Brittonum and its reception, and the tradition of Latin writing in Welsh which survives from the eleventh century from the monastery of Llanbadarn, as well as the works of Gerald of Wales.
• Week 6: The Mabinogi: This week will discuss the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, generally held to be the crowning achievement of Middle Welsh prose.
• Week 7: The Welsh Arthurian Material: This week will discuss Culhwch ac Olwen and other, later, Arthurian material written in Welsh, written in the wake of Geoffrey of Monmouth
• Week 8: Back to Bards: This week will discuss the gogynfeirdd, or poets who were active between c. 1100 and c. 1300.
• Week 9: Dafydd ap Gwilym and the cywyddwyr: This week will discuss the life and work of Dafydd ap Gwilym, and the poets who came after him.
• Week 10: The Historia Taliesin and the Triads: This week will discuss some of the later sources from which we can see how the medieval Welsh interpreted, remembered, and reinvented their own history and the legendary figures which sprung out of it.

Learning Outcomes 

1. Identify the different ‘genres’ in medieval Welsh literature
2. Be able to interpret the composition and context of these various genres
3. Illustrate the full scope and importance of Welsh literature in both languages in which medieval Welshmen would write
4. Identify the interconnectedness between the different genres

Assessments 

• Short Essay (500 words) 25% 
• Written Assignment (1500 words) - 75%

Reading Suggestions 

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements 

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements. 

What Do I Need? 

As this is an online course, you would need the following: 

• Internet access.
  
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit.
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.