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The Resource The works of Gwerful Mechain, edited and translated by Katie Gramich

The works of Gwerful Mechain, edited and translated by Katie Gramich

Creator
Author
Editor
Translator
Contributor
Summary
"Gwerful Mechain is the only Welsh female poet from the late middle ages whose poems have survived as a substantial body of work. One of the most immediately striking characteristics of her poetry is the easy coexistence in her oeuvre of devotional and erotic works. Even to those who may be familiar with the bawdiness of Chaucer or Boccaccio, Gwerful's work is remarkably direct. Yet, as the introduction discusses, some sorts of coexistence of the erotic and the religious were not entirely untypical of medieval literary production in Wales; overall, indeed, one of the most important characteristics of Gwerful's work is the degree to which it takes its place in the mainstream of medieval Welsh poetry. Her themes and techniques do not position her as a marginal or isolated figure, participating in some putative female sub-culture; on the contrary, she engages in poetic dialogues with her male contemporaries, using the same forms, tropes, and vocabulary as they do. Yet, she often speaks with a female voice and overtly sees things from a woman's point of view, taking her peers to task for their male arrogance. She jousts with them verbally as their equal, confident in her own craft and opinions. All of Gwerful's known work is included here-as are several poems of uncertain authorship, and a number of other works that help to fill in the historical and literary context. A unique feature of the volume is the provision, for each work of medieval Welsh poetry included, of two different translations. The first, a literal translation, is presented in facing page format opposite the original Welsh; a second, freer translation, with rhyme patterns approximating those of the original, follows."--
Language
  • eng
  • cel
  • cel
  • eng
Work
Instance
Label
The works of Gwerful Mechain
Title
The works of Gwerful Mechain
Statement of responsibility
edited and translated by Katie Gramich
Creator
Contributor
Author
Editor
Translator
Subject
Genre
Language
  • eng
  • cel
  • cel
  • eng
Summary
"Gwerful Mechain is the only Welsh female poet from the late middle ages whose poems have survived as a substantial body of work. One of the most immediately striking characteristics of her poetry is the easy coexistence in her oeuvre of devotional and erotic works. Even to those who may be familiar with the bawdiness of Chaucer or Boccaccio, Gwerful's work is remarkably direct. Yet, as the introduction discusses, some sorts of coexistence of the erotic and the religious were not entirely untypical of medieval literary production in Wales; overall, indeed, one of the most important characteristics of Gwerful's work is the degree to which it takes its place in the mainstream of medieval Welsh poetry. Her themes and techniques do not position her as a marginal or isolated figure, participating in some putative female sub-culture; on the contrary, she engages in poetic dialogues with her male contemporaries, using the same forms, tropes, and vocabulary as they do. Yet, she often speaks with a female voice and overtly sees things from a woman's point of view, taking her peers to task for their male arrogance. She jousts with them verbally as their equal, confident in her own craft and opinions. All of Gwerful's known work is included here-as are several poems of uncertain authorship, and a number of other works that help to fill in the historical and literary context. A unique feature of the volume is the provision, for each work of medieval Welsh poetry included, of two different translations. The first, a literal translation, is presented in facing page format opposite the original Welsh; a second, freer translation, with rhyme patterns approximating those of the original, follows."--
Member of
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
YDX
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
active 1462-1500
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Gwerful Mechain
Dewey number
891.6/6114
Index
no index present
Language note
Text in original Welsh and in English translation
LC call number
PB2273.G9
LC item number
A2 2018
Literary form
poetry
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorDate
  • active 1462-1500
  • active 1462-1500
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
  • Gramich, Katie
  • Gwerful Mechain
  • Gwerful Mechain
Series statement
Broadview anthology of British literature edition
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Women poets
  • Poets, Welsh
  • Welsh poetry
Label
The works of Gwerful Mechain, edited and translated by Katie Gramich
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-157)
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
on1022466006
Dimensions
22 cm
Extent
157 pages
Isbn
9781554814145
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Label
The works of Gwerful Mechain, edited and translated by Katie Gramich
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-157)
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
on1022466006
Dimensions
22 cm
Extent
157 pages
Isbn
9781554814145
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n

Subject

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