Stories & Soliloquies

Stories & Soliloquies
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    • Mini-Syllabus: Irish Mythology

      Posted at 12:45 pm by Michelle Joelle, on March 17, 2015

      Last year I wrote that I like to read books in coherent clumps. When I pick a book to read, I generally find myself seeking more like it, branching out step by step until I’ve completed what essentially becomes a miniature syllabus. I’ve decided to show off some of these syllabi. Some are more coherent than others, some built chronologically, others by theme, but all of them held together by a central set of questions. My first Mini-Syllabus was on Viking Lore.

      This time, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day I’m turning to Irish Mythology. Because it’s a holiday, I’m going to leave out the critical lens aspect of building the syllabi and keep the focus on open engagement with the stories.

      Dublin 004

      Getting Started:

      1) Irish Fairy and Folk Tales, edited by William Butler Yeats:

      The best way to find your way into Irish mythology, in my opinion, is through folk lore. This collection of short stories is one of my favorites – Yeats’ introduction is engaging and philosophical, and his treatment of the tales is subtle and entertaining, whimsical and full of gravitas at the same time. The stories are divided into categories, each with their own introductions, so you can easily choose a story to fit your mood.

      A great way to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day is to whip up some Shepherd’s Pie (if you’re vegetarian, you can get the same feel with an earthy combination of mushrooms – we call it “Forager’s Pie” in my house), pour some ale, and read a few stories aloud to each other.

      2) Introduction to Early Irish Literature. by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain:

      I know I said I’d keep things celebratory and story-focused, but in this case, you’re going to need some background if you aren’t already familiar the the world of medieval Ireland. This text introduces the main mythological cycles of Ireland, both in their historical contexts and literary styles. To really get into the stories, you’re going to want to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the different ethos of each myth cycle, as well as the overarching view on truth and myth that governs their interconnections. This is a text book, but it’s a text book that will enhance your enjoyment significantly. The Medieval approach to myth and truth was quite different than ours, so you’ll want to be properly prepared.

      The Finn Cycle:

      3) God and Fighting Men: The Story of the Tuatha De Danaann and the Fianna of Ireland, by Lady Augusta Gregory:

      Lady Gregory’s collection of folk tales is a great transition from peasant lore into high mythology. It can be difficult to jump right into the ancient texts directly, so this folk-style retelling of the Finn Cycle is a great way to ease in.

      4) The Tales of the Elders of Ireland/Acallam na Senorach, translated by Ann Dooley and Harry Roe

      Now we’re getting into the serious stuff. Acallam na Senorach explores of the early days of Saint Patrick, the Irish Otherworld of faeries, and the giant Fenians as Cailte and Oisin tell Saint Patrick the glorious history of Finn Mac Cumaill. This edition has maps and pronunciation guides that are invaluable for those unacquainted with the Irish language.

      5) Fianaigecht, translated by Kuno Meyer

      This is a collection of Irish poems and tales about Finn and his fighting Fiana, with the original Irish on the lefthand pages and the English translation on the right. This text is for those with a high level of scholarly interest – the introduction jumps right into the philological history of Fenian lore and it never really eases up. The poems and stories themselves are full of detail, and the translation, I wager, focuses more on accuracy than art. I “wager” this rather than claim it because I don’t actually know Irish (save for some conversational bits) and am guessing based on the choppiness of the rhythm and the several question marks that don’t correspond to the original Irish version, suggesting missing information or confusion. This text is worth having just for the glossary of rarer words at the back.

      The Ulster Cycle:

      6) Cuchulain of Muirethmne: The Story of the Men of the Red Branch of Ulster, by Lady Augusta Gregory:

      Now that we’re moving over to the legendary Ulster Cycle, it’s a good time to catch our breath with the folk readability of Lady Gregory. I’ve mentioned Cuchulain on this blog before, so if ever you were wondering who he was, this book is a great place to find out.

      7) The Tain bo Cuailnge, translated by Thomas Kinsella

      As it says on the back of the book, this “is the centre-piece of the eight-century Ulster cycle of the heroic tales” of Cuchulain. This primary source translation is extremely accessible to novices yet rich and essential for scholars; it is readable and entertaining, from the historical background all the way down to the art and typography. If you only choose one book from this list, make it this one. If you choose two, make it this one and the Yeats’ collection.

      8) Early Irish Myths and Sagas, translated by Jeffrey Gantz

      This is another great collection of tales about Cuchulain and other characters from the Ulster cycle, and another great translation. The introductions to the stories are brief and more centered on the tales themselves than on their history, but you do get some background to help you along.

      Short Collections:

      9) Ancient Irish Legends and 10) Irish Fairy Tales by Padraic O’Farrell

      These are slim volumes of modern retellings, perfect for those not looking for the investment of primary sources and elaborate pronunciation guides. I find these to be slightly less poetic in their delivery, which is not a bad thing; there’s a drier wit and a straightforwardness that’s appealing, making the stories feel contemporary and thus less distant.

      I know I’ve gone a little bit overboard here, but hopefully the structure of this mini-syllabus will help you carve out a reading list that suits you. You can choose a myth cycle to focus your reading, take the first item from each category for a lighter yet more well-rounded approach, or simply choose what looks most appealing. Whatever you choose, I hope you try reading some of it out loud to friends or family, tapping into the spirit of the seanchaidhe as you celebrate the tales of Ireland.

      Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.

      Posted in Series | 0 Comments | Tagged books, Finn Cycle, Ireland, Irish mythology, myth, Saint Patrick's Day, stories, storytelling, syllabus, Ulster Cycle, Yeats
    • Happy Halloween!

      Posted at 3:33 pm by Michelle Joelle, on October 29, 2013

      Pumpkins 005

      Pumpkins by us, circa 2012

      To celebrate Halloween, and to reward myself for a week of working on some very dense material for my day job, I’ve decided to leave books and writing aside for a moment and look at my favorite Halloween movies (and there’s one written piece thrown in for good measure).

      This is sort of an odd list for me to generate. For the most part, I don’t enjoy the horror genre. I tend to find it upsetting. I over-empathize with the characters. Instead of feeling titillated, I wind up reflecting on true stories of random horrible acts of violence, and well, it’s terribly unpleasant. There are exceptions though, especially when there’s a layer of self-commentary (Cabin in the Woods) or there’s political commentary (name your favorite zombie movie, and I’m sure it’s got some).

      I also don’t like to think of death as something scary, or of ghosts as evil. I think of the people I love who will one day die, and of people I have loved who have already passed away, and I just don’t find any joy in imagining them in any kind of torment, or as any agent of torment (as in stories of hauntings). I love cemeteries, because I love to think about the stories that all of the people there have left behind. I’ve been told that this is strange, but I find them peaceful.

      But this is what Halloween is meant to be about – remembering the dead, even honoring death itself. Our tradition has roots in Samhain, a festival in celebration of the end of the year, the death of the summer and the beginning of winter. Autumn is a time when death is beautiful – the leaves are the most brilliant just before they wither and fall. Samhain is a time when the barrier between the living and the dead is permeable, and the dead are giving a place at the feast. It also has roots in the Christian All Saints’ Day, wherein the living form spiritual bonds with dead who suffer purgatory, and the dead who are in heaven.

      Ghoulish, perhaps, but villainous and terrible?  Not unless the dead in question was villainous and terrible in life, please.

      So my list won’t include the scariest or most original selection of movies out there (Reader’s Digest can help you out there), but there are many, many stories that don’t push my general squeamishness too far while still capturing the spirit of Halloween. These are my five favorites:

      1) Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. Not only is this a brilliant example of storytelling, but it has everything you could want in a holiday movie – including another holiday. Christmas is my favorite (ultimate hygge time), and this movie gives me a chance to secretly start cultivating my yuletide cheer a bit early, thus tempering my insatiable Christmas desire long enough to let me enjoy the Fall holidays first.

      2) Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow. This is a masterpiece. Don’t expect a serious horror film, or else you’ll never make heads or tails of it. It’s take on the gruesome is comic, fun, and kind of beautiful. And you know – Johnny Depp with gadgets, Christina Ricci in a hoop skirt, and delightful autumnal scenery.

      3) The Shadow of the Vampire. Willem Dafoe and John Malkovich amaze me in this, and it’s incredibly scary.  Like, legitimately it frightens me, and I enjoy it, because it always makes me reflect on the vampiric power of film. It really sucks me in, you know? Pair it with Nosferatu for an excellent evening in.

      4) Donnie Darko. This is sad, triumphant and thought-provoking all at once, and it always sends me to my homemade VHS of Harvey, which I taped off of Turner Classic Movies on a VCR.  Because I am from the past, and I really, really want to read that time-travel book.

      5) Teig O’Kane and the Corpse, as found in W.B. Yeats’ Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry, translated by Douglas Hyde.  This is the one that isn’t a movie, though I would love to see it adapted into a short film. It’s deliciously ghoulish, spooky, traffics in both fairies and ghosts, and says something about both death and life. It’s a wonderful campfire read for any season, but I especially like it when its chilly out.  It’s a perfect Samhain tale.  You can find this tale here, but I recommend getting the book so you can take it with you to travel.

      I make no apologies for my puns. It’s a holiday, after all.

      Related articles
      • Merry Samhain & Happy Halloween (springwolf.net)
      • Top spooky ancient Irish myths surrounding Halloween (irishcentral.com)
      Posted in The Waste Book | 3 Comments | Tagged film, Halloween, Ireland, Samhain, Tim Burton
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