Enchanted Avians
Date
2024
Authors
Evans, Sarah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
From dragons to fairies, otherworldly and enchanting creatures fill Medieval Welsh literature. Among these fae-like creatures, there is one species all readers of the material are familiar with: birds. Birds fly between the magical and mundane forests, and unique to The Mabinogion, flit between constructions of human and animal. The Mabinogion is a collection of eleven Medieval Welsh prose tales that highlight cultural and folkloric practices in Medieval Wales. Throughout these tales, birds appear as agents of enchantment, curses and blessings, and Ovidian transformations. My research catalogues Welsh bird species and situates their meanings in Medieval Welsh literature and culture. Beyond a fascinating glimpse into birds across time, this analysis illustrates how Medieval Wales’s nature and magic enrich our understandings of Medieval Welsh culture and ourselves.
Description
Keywords
birds, human, medieval, Wales, literature, nature