User:Cuchullain/Culhwch and Olwen

Culhwch and Olwen is a Welsh prose romance that survives in only two manuscripts: a complete version in the Red Book of Hergest, ca. 1400, and a fragmented version in the White Book of Rhydderch, ca. 1325. Certain linguistic evidence indicates it took its present form by the 11th century, making it perhaps the earliest Arthurian tale and one of Wales' earliest extant prose texts. The title Culhwch and Olwen is a later invention and does not occur in early manuscripts.

Since Lady Charlotte Guest first included this tale in her translation of the Mabinogion, it has been identified with that work. Besides the quality of its storytelling it contains several remarkable passages: the description of Culhwch riding on his horse is frequently mentioned for its vividness (a passage reused to similar effect in the 16th century prose "parody" Araith Wgon, as well as in 17th century poetic adaptations of that work), the fight against the terrible boar Twrch Trwyth certainly has antecedents in Celtic tradition, and the list of King Arthur's retainers recited by the hero is a rhetorical flourish that preserves snippets of Welsh tradition that otherwise would be lost.

The story is on one level a typical folktale, in which the romance between the title characters Culhwch and Olwen is embellished by typical folk motifs (a strange birth, a jealous stepmother, the hero falling in love with a stranger after hearing only her name, etc.). However, for most of the narrative the title characters go unmentioned, their story serving as a frame while most of the text is occupied by two long lists and the adventures of Arthur and his men, all of which is only tenuously related to the overarching narrative.

The frame narrative
The story begins with the marriage of Culhwch's parents, Cilydd, son of Celyddon, and Goleuddydd, daughter of Amlawdd Wledig. After become pregnant with their son Goleuddydd goes mad, but she regains her senses when she delivers the child in an enclosure for pigs. The name Culhwch is interpreted as "pig run". Eventually she falls deathly ill, but beseeches her husband not to remarry until a two headed thorn grows over her grave. She tells her confessor to keep anything from growing there, but after seven years he neglects his duty and the king is free to marry. His advisors suggest the wife of King Doged, and in a single sentence the narrator baldly describes how Kilydd kills the rival king and takes his wife, daughter and land.

Fearing that her daughter will be dispossessed, Kilydd's new wife suggests Culhwch make her his bride. When Culhwch claims he is too young for a wife, his stepmother puts a curse on him that he can marry no woman besides Olwen, daughter of the terrible giant Ysbaddaden Pencawr. Culhwch is instantly smitten, though he knows nothing of the girl besides her name, and his father suggests he rides to the court of his cousin King Arthur for help in finding her.

The list of Arthur's retainers
Culhwch arrives at the court of Arthur, who welcomes his young kinsman and offers to give him whatever he wishes. Culhwch, of course, asks that Arthur help him get Olwen, and invokes some two hundred of the greatest men, women, dogs, horses and swords in Arthur's kingdom to underscore his request. Included in the list are characters from Irish mythology, hagiography, and sometimes actual history. He names Conchobar mac Nessa and his Red Branch warriors from the Ulster Cycle of Irish legends, individuals from other Arthurian material like Urien Rheged, Taliesin, Bishop Bidwini (Baldwin of Britain), and Essylt (Iseult), and historical figures like Cunobelinus (Cynvelyn) and even William the Conqueror (Gwyllennhin the king of France). Some of the names seem to be taken from existing popular tradition, for example a great leaper, great eaters, a

going mad and

,

loses his wife after a difficult childbirth. When he remarries, the young Culhwch rejects his stepmother's attempt to pair him with his new stepsister. Offended, the new queen puts a curse on him so that he can marry no one besides the beautiful Olwen, daughter of the giant Though he has never seen her, Culhwch becomes infatuated with her, but his father warns her will never find her without the aid of his famous cousin Arthur. The young man immediately sets off to seek his kinsman.

Arthur agrees to help, and sends six of his finest warriors to join Culhwch in his search for Olwen. These warriors include Cai (known to later literature as Sir Kay, Arthur's foster brother), Bedwyr (Sir Bedivere) and Gwalchmei (Sir Gawain, Arthur's nephew). The group meets some relatives of Culhwch's that know Olwen and agree to arrange a meeting. Olwen is receptive to Culhwch's attraction, but she cannot marry him unless her father agrees, and he, unable to survive past his daughter's wedding, will not consent until Culhwch completes a series of about forty impossible-sounding tasks. Fortunately for Culhwch (and the reader), the completion of only a few of these tasks is recorded and the giant is killed, leaving Olwen free to marry her lover.

The second list includes the tasks Culhwch must complete before Ysbaddaden will allow him to marry Olwen. Only a fraction are recounted, but several that are of great significance. The longest episode, the hunt for the boar Twrch Trwyth, is possibly related to the boar hunt in the Irish stories of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and is probably based on a story mentioned in the Historia Britonum. The rescue of Mabon ap Modron from his watery prison has numerous parallels in Celtic legend, and the quest for the cauldron of Diwrnach the Irishman may well be related to the tales of Bran the Blessed in the second branch of the Mabinogion and the poem The Spoils of Annwn in the Book of Taliesin, possibly linking it to the Grail Quest.

In all, Culhwch and Olwen is a highly interesting compilation of Welsh Arthurian tradition.