Taliesin in the Land of Death: The Visions of the Sleepiong Bard (2)
In this episode we look at how Ellis Wynne discusses the Welsh bardic tradition in The Visions of the Sleeping Bard. The enw of the work’s main character has ancient literary roots, and we see that other aspects of this amazing book satirize that tradition. Why does Ellis Wynne connect Welsh poetry with sin? And how does he do that? And why worry so much about the praise poetry, seeing as that tradition was on its knees if not completely disappearing at the time? We also consider Ellis Wynne’s attempt at killing the tradition’s evergreen arch-bard, Taliesin, and suggest that it’s Taliesin who laughs last despite of this.
Cyflwynwyd gan: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a’r Athro Richard Wyn Jones
Cynhyrchwyd gan: Richard Martin
Cerddoriaeth: ‘Might Have Done’ gan The Molenes
Darllen Pellach/Further Reading:
- Patrick J. Donovan a Gwyn Thomas (goln.) Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsg: y rhan Gyntaf (1998).
- Gwyn Thomas, Y Bardd Cwsg a’i gefndir (1971).
- Gwyn Thomas, Ellis Wynne (1984).