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fandomhigh2005-11-07 06:20 pm
godinakilt.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-11-07 06:20 pm
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Celtic Literature and Civilisation class for Monday
Camulus is reading a copy of the Fandom Hightimes with his feet up on his desk as students enter.
"Feasgar math, class. I hope you all had a good weekend." The phrase sounds rather practiced, but he gets it out. "Today we'll be talking about the four men I asked you to start looking at last class. I listed four of the heroes of the Ulster or Ultonian Cycle of stories, the centrepiece of which is the Tain Bo Cuilagne, or the Cattle Raid of Cooley. The Ulster Cycle is often referred to as a window into the Iron Age, as it preserves most of the culture and attitude of the time.
"Now, about these heroes. The first is Cu Chulainn, who we'll be looking at in much greater detail. IN the entire breadth of Celtic literature, there are two truly great heroes, Cu Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhall." Camulus actually looks wistfully nostalgic at the moment. "Ah, Fionn . . ." He shakes his head, snapping out of it. "Since he's so important, we'll leave Cu Chulainn to another lesson. Fergus mac Roich is one of the great Ulster heroes, but in the course of the Tain he defects to Connacht because of the actions of Conchobar, king of Ulster. It is from Fergus that the story of the Tain is recovered.
"The story goes that the students of one of the great storytellers of Ireland were trying to tell the story of the Tain Bo Cuailagne, but could only remember bits and pieces of it, so they go in search of the whole story, which is reportedly held by a monk at the far side of the island. On the way, the students happen to spend the night by the grave of Fergus mac Roich and sing a lament to him. A fog rolls in and Fergus mac Roich himself, in all his battle glory, appears and recites the whole of the Tain Bo to the students.
"Fergus was a great friend of Cu Chulainn and one of the greatest warriors in Ireland. Cormac mac Conchobar was not as great a warrior, but important none the less, for obvious reasons. Conall Cernach was yet another of the famed Ulster warriors who defected with Fergus, Cormac, and the rest. The reasons for their defection will be discovered when we begin looking at the Tain Bo Cuilagne next week. Questions?"
[[My wrists are on fire. And I'm a thou behind. *panics*]]
"Feasgar math, class. I hope you all had a good weekend." The phrase sounds rather practiced, but he gets it out. "Today we'll be talking about the four men I asked you to start looking at last class. I listed four of the heroes of the Ulster or Ultonian Cycle of stories, the centrepiece of which is the Tain Bo Cuilagne, or the Cattle Raid of Cooley. The Ulster Cycle is often referred to as a window into the Iron Age, as it preserves most of the culture and attitude of the time.
"Now, about these heroes. The first is Cu Chulainn, who we'll be looking at in much greater detail. IN the entire breadth of Celtic literature, there are two truly great heroes, Cu Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhall." Camulus actually looks wistfully nostalgic at the moment. "Ah, Fionn . . ." He shakes his head, snapping out of it. "Since he's so important, we'll leave Cu Chulainn to another lesson. Fergus mac Roich is one of the great Ulster heroes, but in the course of the Tain he defects to Connacht because of the actions of Conchobar, king of Ulster. It is from Fergus that the story of the Tain is recovered.
"The story goes that the students of one of the great storytellers of Ireland were trying to tell the story of the Tain Bo Cuailagne, but could only remember bits and pieces of it, so they go in search of the whole story, which is reportedly held by a monk at the far side of the island. On the way, the students happen to spend the night by the grave of Fergus mac Roich and sing a lament to him. A fog rolls in and Fergus mac Roich himself, in all his battle glory, appears and recites the whole of the Tain Bo to the students.
"Fergus was a great friend of Cu Chulainn and one of the greatest warriors in Ireland. Cormac mac Conchobar was not as great a warrior, but important none the less, for obvious reasons. Conall Cernach was yet another of the famed Ulster warriors who defected with Fergus, Cormac, and the rest. The reasons for their defection will be discovered when we begin looking at the Tain Bo Cuilagne next week. Questions?"
[[My wrists are on fire. And I'm a thou behind. *panics*]]
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