Ireland

As you read “The Wooing of Etain” in the Gantz text, consider the following:

• Why the shifting (rotating) love triangles?
• Is it in fact love that is being described?
• How old is Etain at the end of the story? (and how can that be?)
• Is Mider a good man (or good Tuatha de Dannan)?
• Is the Daghda cruel?
• Is it somehow useful to see Oengus as a manifestation of an early Irish god of love?
• Why is Etain the woman that everyone wants?
• Consider Fuamnach’s position as first wife?  Are her actions called for?
• Consider the magical elements of the story — what are they and how do they work?
• Can you see serious plotting or is this tale a mess?

Here is a link to pictures from dawn on September 20th, the fall equinox at Loughcrew.

http://www.newgrange.com/loughcrew-sep09.htm.

Find out more about Loughcrew here.

Next Monday’s assignment calls for a 3-page reaction paper on the early Irish tales we have read so far: “The Curse of Macha,” “The Dream of Oengus,” “The Cattle Raid of Froech,” and “The Tale of Macc Da Tho’s Pig.” Please provide a thoughtful response to these readings. I’m not looking for plot summary — we’ve all read the texts — but rather your opinion of them (your reaction). Do you like them? Why? Do these stories strike you as unusual given your typical reading? In what way? Thoughtfully discuss the ideas that arise from your reading.

It’s always good to provide reasonably well-formatted texts. Here are some examples that you might consider: http://titania.stockton.edu/littresearch/essay-formats/.

I won’t always post homework here — the syllabus should do — but since it’s early in the course, let me remind you to please reread “The Curse of Macha” and read for class discussion: “The Dream of Oengus,” “The Cattle Raid of Froech,” “Tale of Macc Da Tho’s Pig” in the Gantz text. You’ll be writing a 3-page reaction paper on them due Monday the 14th.

Welcome to the class blog for Celtic Mythology & Early Irish Literature (GAH 2374). I’ll be posting relevant course material here and keeping the class up-to-date on class events (such as school closings; incapacitation due to illness [of me]; our Samhain celebration, etc.).