This is the first literary-critical study of the Táin Bó Cúailnge in its entirety, and as an autonomous literary work. The key to a more deeply probing understanding of the semiliterate epic is the study of its characters: what they do and why they do it – why more important than what. Why reveals the differences between the various versions. Most promising is the multilayered Recension I, mainly preserved in Lebor na hUidre, which testifies of the keen interest of its compilers in the portrayal of the characters, while the version in the Book of Leinster, with its tendency to omit what might lessen the heroes’ prestige, pays for its greater unity with loss of depth.
The multifacetedness of the characters in the early version, combined with the deceptive simplicity of the plot, lends the work a remarkable pragmatism. Despite occasional baroque descriptions of battle frenzy, the main heroes Cú Chulainn and Fergus embody a heroism reined in by prudence. All through the war they do everything in their power to limit the use of force. Ailill and Medb represent a new type of ruler-entrepreneur, who seeks to realize his aim at the lowest possible cost and accepts failure matter-of-factly. So the epic has no fatal end-point. The greater part of the two armies are able return to their countries. The theme of mutual destruction is relegated to the Battle of the Bulls. The lasting antagonism between the North and the remainder of the island must have endowed the Táin with contemporary significance at various points in time, as the allusions to (near-)contemporary events suggest.
This book consists of a collection of Doris Edel’s papers produced previously over the last fifte... more This book consists of a collection of Doris Edel’s papers produced previously over the last fifteen years or so. Most were not published in English, and also in sources not necessarily widely available, and so this is a most welcome opportunity to have wider access to works by this scholar of Celtic literature.The papers have where necessary been translated by the author,and none of the slight idiosyncrasies (such as “fase” for “phase”) make the meaning unclear. There is some slight repetition between chapters as some of the introductory rubric necessarily had to be repeated in separate publications, but overall the collection allows for the development of several key themes in Celtic literature and culture. In the space for this review, only some of the themes will be explored at length, though others will be mentioned.
Doris Edel, The Celtic West and Europe, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2001, pp. 19-34, 2001
In this discussion of the so-called nativist debate I argue that the cultural flowering of Irelan... more In this discussion of the so-called nativist debate I argue that the cultural flowering of Ireland from the seventh to the early tenth century was the result of successful integration. Christianization did not obliterate the existing culture. Representatives of the latter entered into an intensive dialogue with the culture of the new faith, developing their own traditionsal learning into a dialogue partner. Adduced examples from the legal and the literary material are shown to reflect a 'neutral technology of life' on which the new culture had little hold.
Not surprisingly, the members of the Celtic Revival had difficulties reconciling the directness o... more Not surprisingly, the members of the Celtic Revival had difficulties reconciling the directness of the older Irish literature in bodily matters with the literary and moral code of their own time. In this they were no exception, although in their case the problem was aggravated by Ireland's colonial status. Everywhere in that world that we have somewhat incorrectly labelled as Victorian – a world shaped by nationalism, puritanism and triumphalist churches of various denominations –, the newly discovered medieval literatures confronted scholar and educated reader alike with this problem. As an example from outside Ireland may serve the great medievalist Joseph Bédier. In his monumental study of the French
This is the first literary-critical study of the Táin Bó Cúailnge in its entirety, and as an autonomous literary work. The key to a more deeply probing understanding of the semiliterate epic is the study of its characters: what they do and why they do it – why more important than what. Why reveals the differences between the various versions. Most promising is the multilayered Recension I, mainly preserved in Lebor na hUidre, which testifies of the keen interest of its compilers in the portrayal of the characters, while the version in the Book of Leinster, with its tendency to omit what might lessen the heroes’ prestige, pays for its greater unity with loss of depth.
The multifacetedness of the characters in the early version, combined with the deceptive simplicity of the plot, lends the work a remarkable pragmatism. Despite occasional baroque descriptions of battle frenzy, the main heroes Cú Chulainn and Fergus embody a heroism reined in by prudence. All through the war they do everything in their power to limit the use of force. Ailill and Medb represent a new type of ruler-entrepreneur, who seeks to realize his aim at the lowest possible cost and accepts failure matter-of-factly. So the epic has no fatal end-point. The greater part of the two armies are able return to their countries. The theme of mutual destruction is relegated to the Battle of the Bulls. The lasting antagonism between the North and the remainder of the island must have endowed the Táin with contemporary significance at various points in time, as the allusions to (near-)contemporary events suggest.
This book consists of a collection of Doris Edel’s papers produced previously over the last fifte... more This book consists of a collection of Doris Edel’s papers produced previously over the last fifteen years or so. Most were not published in English, and also in sources not necessarily widely available, and so this is a most welcome opportunity to have wider access to works by this scholar of Celtic literature.The papers have where necessary been translated by the author,and none of the slight idiosyncrasies (such as “fase” for “phase”) make the meaning unclear. There is some slight repetition between chapters as some of the introductory rubric necessarily had to be repeated in separate publications, but overall the collection allows for the development of several key themes in Celtic literature and culture. In the space for this review, only some of the themes will be explored at length, though others will be mentioned.
Doris Edel, The Celtic West and Europe, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2001, pp. 19-34, 2001
In this discussion of the so-called nativist debate I argue that the cultural flowering of Irelan... more In this discussion of the so-called nativist debate I argue that the cultural flowering of Ireland from the seventh to the early tenth century was the result of successful integration. Christianization did not obliterate the existing culture. Representatives of the latter entered into an intensive dialogue with the culture of the new faith, developing their own traditionsal learning into a dialogue partner. Adduced examples from the legal and the literary material are shown to reflect a 'neutral technology of life' on which the new culture had little hold.
Not surprisingly, the members of the Celtic Revival had difficulties reconciling the directness o... more Not surprisingly, the members of the Celtic Revival had difficulties reconciling the directness of the older Irish literature in bodily matters with the literary and moral code of their own time. In this they were no exception, although in their case the problem was aggravated by Ireland's colonial status. Everywhere in that world that we have somewhat incorrectly labelled as Victorian – a world shaped by nationalism, puritanism and triumphalist churches of various denominations –, the newly discovered medieval literatures confronted scholar and educated reader alike with this problem. As an example from outside Ireland may serve the great medievalist Joseph Bédier. In his monumental study of the French
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Books by Doris Edel
Softcover, 384 pp, 2 maps, 2 figures, 1 diagram – ISBN: 978-3-942002-20-2
This is the first literary-critical study of the Táin Bó Cúailnge in its entirety, and as an autonomous literary work. The key to a more deeply probing understanding of the semiliterate epic is the study of its characters: what they do and why they do it – why more important than what. Why reveals the differences between the various versions. Most promising is the multilayered Recension I, mainly preserved in Lebor na hUidre, which testifies of the keen interest of its compilers in the portrayal of the characters, while the version in the Book of Leinster, with its tendency to omit what might lessen the heroes’ prestige, pays for its greater unity with loss of depth.
The multifacetedness of the characters in the early version, combined with the deceptive simplicity of the plot, lends the work a remarkable pragmatism. Despite occasional baroque descriptions of battle frenzy, the main heroes Cú Chulainn and Fergus embody a heroism reined in by prudence. All through the war they do everything in their power to limit the use of force. Ailill and Medb represent a new type of ruler-entrepreneur, who seeks to realize his aim at the lowest possible cost and accepts failure matter-of-factly. So the epic has no fatal end-point. The greater part of the two armies are able return to their countries. The theme of mutual destruction is relegated to the Battle of the Bulls. The lasting antagonism between the North and the remainder of the island must have endowed the Táin with contemporary significance at various points in time, as the allusions to (near-)contemporary events suggest.
Papers by Doris Edel
Softcover, 384 pp, 2 maps, 2 figures, 1 diagram – ISBN: 978-3-942002-20-2
This is the first literary-critical study of the Táin Bó Cúailnge in its entirety, and as an autonomous literary work. The key to a more deeply probing understanding of the semiliterate epic is the study of its characters: what they do and why they do it – why more important than what. Why reveals the differences between the various versions. Most promising is the multilayered Recension I, mainly preserved in Lebor na hUidre, which testifies of the keen interest of its compilers in the portrayal of the characters, while the version in the Book of Leinster, with its tendency to omit what might lessen the heroes’ prestige, pays for its greater unity with loss of depth.
The multifacetedness of the characters in the early version, combined with the deceptive simplicity of the plot, lends the work a remarkable pragmatism. Despite occasional baroque descriptions of battle frenzy, the main heroes Cú Chulainn and Fergus embody a heroism reined in by prudence. All through the war they do everything in their power to limit the use of force. Ailill and Medb represent a new type of ruler-entrepreneur, who seeks to realize his aim at the lowest possible cost and accepts failure matter-of-factly. So the epic has no fatal end-point. The greater part of the two armies are able return to their countries. The theme of mutual destruction is relegated to the Battle of the Bulls. The lasting antagonism between the North and the remainder of the island must have endowed the Táin with contemporary significance at various points in time, as the allusions to (near-)contemporary events suggest.