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Amryliw (Fideo Swyddogol) – Manon

Part of the Lŵp x PYST music video fund.

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Branwen ferch Llŷr

Branwen daughter of Llŷr We have a great time in this episode while discussing ‘The Second Branch of the Mabinogi’, namely the tale of ‘Branwen daughter of Llŷr’. We consider a number of things about this exciting story, asking interesting questions about its relationship with the medieval society to which it belonged. We note that […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch

The next episode focusses on the tale ‘Branwen daughter of Llŷr’ (or ‘The Second Branch of the Mabinogi’). We prepare for that discussion in this episode by looking at the earliest manuscript which contains a complete copy of the tale, namely the White Book of Rhydderch. This manuscript was created about the year 1350 by […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Trafferth mewn Tafarn

‘Trouble at an Inn’ We have fun in this episode while discussing Dafydd ap Gwilym’s famous self-satirical cywydd. This is a narrative poem which describes an unsuccessful attempt to meet a woman late at night, and by reciting this story Dafydd is satirizing the very bardic persona which is central to so many of his […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Mis Mai a Mis Tachwedd

‘May and November’ In this episode we discuss one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s nature poems, namely the famous cywydd which contrasts the month of May with the ‘dark angry’ month. While considering two connected themes which are central to Dafydd’s work, love and nature, we note that the poem welcomes May as it signifies the […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Yr Wylan

‘The Seagull’ In this episode we look at one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s cywyddau llatai and explain the meaning of that word – ‘llatai’ – and discuss the usual pattern followed by these kinds of cywyddau. This is a kind of poem which combines two of Dafydd’s favourite themes, love and nature, giving the poet’s […]

Llyfr Taliesin

Here we introduce the episodes which discuss two of Taliesin’s poems, and we do that by looking at the Book of Taliesin itself, one of the treasures kept in the National Library of Wales. This amazing manuscript was created during the first half of the fourteenth century, but it includes a collection of poems which […]

Gwaith Argoed Llwyfain

This episode discusses one of the poems attributed to the bard Taliesin. The word ‘gwaith’ means ‘battle’, and although we don’t know where exactly Argoed Llwyfain was, it’s certain that the location was in the Old North and that this battle took place sometime towards the end of the sixth century. It was a victory […]

Marwnad Owain ab Urien

In this episode we look at another of Taliesin’s poems. The praise tradition including paying tribute to dead leaders, and that’s what we have in this powerful poem. We note that this elegy for Owain refers to the victory celebrated in another of Taliesin’s poems, ‘The Battle of Argoed Llwyfain’; there is a sense that […]

Canu Aneirin, Awdl 1

We discuss the first of the Gododdin’s awdlau in this episode, namely an elegy for Ywain, a warrior described as ‘Marro’s only son’. We note that the style is very sparse yet also extremely powerful; here is a poet who does a lot with a few words. We learn a number of things about Ywain: […]

Llyfr Aneirin

This episode prefaces the episodes which discuss two of Canu Aneirin’s awdlau. Here we are in the National Library of Wales, looking at the Book of Aneirin itself! This manuscript was written between about 1250 and 1300. As it’s likely that it was written during the final years of ‘the independent Wales, we wonder if […]

Canu Aneirin, Awdl 24

Here we discuss an elegy to another of the Gododdin’s dead warriors, Buddfan fab Bleiddfan. We note that ‘arwr’ (‘hero’) is the first word, summarizing effectively the picture we get in the following lines. We also note that the last word, ‘dihafarch’ (‘brave’) encapsulates this elegy’s main message. Like the first awdl, death in battle […]

Sesiwn Gŵyl Tawe – Mali Hâf

Menter Iaith Abertawe are launching a series of live sessions for Gŵyl Tawe, featuring artists from the festival at various locations around Swansea. Session 2 – Mali Hâf from Swansea Arena

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Aneirin gan Iwan Llwyd

In this episode we look at the poem ‘Aneirin’ by Iwan Llwyd, scrutinizing the way in which he compares – or assimilates – the poet’s job with the journalist’s. We also discuss the way in which the poem assimilates wars from different historical periods and note that Iwan Llwyd has very definite ideas about the […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Y Gŵr sydd ar y Gorwel gan Gerallt Lloyd Owen

This episode focusses on Gerallt Lloyd Owen’s poem, ‘Y Gŵr sydd ar y Gorwel’. As well as scrutinising the poet’s craft, we explain the political context and consider why Gerallt Lloyd Owen approached Saunders Lewis in this way. We note the significance of the word ‘horizon’ itself and suggest that this modern poem highlights some […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Sul y Mamau yn Greenham, 1984 gan Menna Elfyn

We discuss Menna Elfen’s ‘Mother’s Day at Greenham, 1984’ in this episode. Jerry Hunter scrutinizes the structure and style of the poem, noting how the poet takes advantage of the flexibility of free measure. She also discusses the images that are central to her. Richard Wyn Jones explains the historical and political context, explaining the […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Our series for Welsh A Level Students

This is a special series of Yr Hen Iaith – one that has been created specifically for people studying Welsh A Level. Each episode in the series relates to an aspect of the syllabus. You can listen to two old friends discussing Welsh literature, one an expert in the field and the other eager to […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Un Nos Ola Leuad

We discuss Un Nos Ola Leuad in this episode while filming at the National Library of Wales, with Caradog Prichard’s own notebook with one of his original plans for the novel and a draft of a chapter in front of us. We consider the style of this remarkable work and the way it moves between […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Martha, Jac, a Sianco

We discuss Martha, Jac a Sianco in this episode, scrutinizing how the novel depicts the dark side of rural life. We find that even the most shocking aspects of the novel reflect reality and that this courageous work goes against a stream of Welsh literature that elevates, romanticises and idealises the life of the […]

Hynt Yr Hen Iaith: neges ar gyfer ein dilynwyr

As you know if you have been following Yr Hen Iaith, the last episode was the final episode of Series 2. There will be a little break before we start Series 3, but the Yr Hen Iaith team will not be idle! In fact, we have started recording a special series for A-level pupils. This […]

Pennod 62 – Hanesyddiaeth a Hunaniaeth: Drych y Prif Oesoedd

Historiography and Identity: Drych y Prif Oesoedd With this episode we bring the second series of Yr Hen Iaith to an end, and we do that by discussing an incredibly influential book which Theophilus Evans published in 1740. Drych y Prif Oesoedd [The Mirror of the Earliest Centuries] was first published in 1716, but the […]