Storytelling in Medieval Wales

[English page]

JANUARY 17, 2011 BY SANDRA ALVAREZ

Storytelling in Medieval Wales

By Sioned Davies,

http://www.medievalists.net/2011/01/storytelling-in-medieval-wales/

Oral Tradition, Vol.7:2 (1992)

An image of either Owain or Cynon protecting themselves from a supernatural hailstorm that precedes the coming of the Black Knight. Taken from the 1902 edition of The Mabinogion edited by Owen Morgan Edwards, from the original translation by Charlotte Guest.

Introduction: Very little is known of the storyteller and his functions in medieval Welsh society. Welsh sources imply that tales were recited in prose by professional storytellers—the cyfarwyddiaid (singular cyfarwydd). In medieval Ireland, there is evidence to suggest that the composition of both prose and poetry was linked to the fili, the poet, although storytelling was not one of his main functions.

In Wales, however, there is no direct evidence regarding the relationship between the bardd (poet) and cyfarwydd (storyteller). One much quoted passage in an eleventh-century tale tells of Gwydion and his companions visiting the court of Pryderi in the guise of poets.

They were made welcome. Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night. “Why,” said Pryderi, “gladly would we have a tale [cyfarwyddyd] from some of the young men yonder.” “Lord,” said Gwydion, “it is a custom with us that the first night after one comes to a great man, the chief bard [pencerdd] shall have the say. I will tell a tale gladly.” Gwydion was the best teller of tales [cyfarwydd] in the world. And that night he entertained the court with pleasant tales and storytelling [cyfarwyddyd] till he was praised by everyone in the court.

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