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One of Ireland’s, ‘Three Great Tales of Sorrow’ which all deal with the lives and tragic deaths of offspring, this one, the second in the series, is the most poignant perhaps as, ostensibly, the offspring are still children.
Whilst it is possible to regard Folk Tales, Legends and Myths as ‘reportage’ it is necessary to understand how to read them as such and this requires us to relinquish habitual notions of ‘literal-ness’.
From a structural point of view, we may wonder after the third foster-daughter, Alva, who, although named, plays no role in the action of the story?
Are these three names deliberately chosen to question or even expand the biblical tale of origins?
The twin motif also seems under used save for the curious assemblage of the swans on the ‘Rock of One’. Perhaps it is referring us to plane and direction, and hence, is ultimately concerned with notions of dimensionality?
And what of the slender silver chains which link the swans at the end of the story and which, when broken, lead to their release from enchantment?
The Crafty-Folk initially keep pace with the fate of the swans and then mysteriously disappear?
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The tradition of both Ravens and Swans as ‘psychopomps’ or guides for the Souls of the Dead is far older than this story and ‘plays into the mix’ in curious ways.
Ravens gorge on corpses and Swans migrate, leaving the shores of Albion in early November and returning early in February which are significant calendrical dates for the ‘Celtic Peoples’.
Continue reading: Tell-Tale Signs IV…
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
The one caveat, Sue, is to distinguish where the folk tale crossed the path of Christianity and then got distorted to accommodate the Christians’ agenda. It always annoyed me when we read these stories in school. I’d say, ‘is there nothing sacred?’ and the teacher would laugh, indulgently, I thought while secretly hoping it disturbed him.
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It does become quite obvious sometimes where this has happened, Dermott… and half the time it doesn’t mesh right. Stuart has studied thesetales much more than I, but even I can spot some of them.
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Bloody monks and their fancy manuscripts, the graphic novel of the age
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There must have been quite a dilemma for some, not wanting to dispose of the old tales but having to repackage them to fit the new paradigm.
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The advantage, they recorded them; the disadvantage, they distorted them. Check out the tale of Oisin
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The fun is disentangling them.
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I agree, but for an Irish child growing up, it was immensely frustrating. May I recommend PW Joyce’s A Social History of Ancient Ireland, Vols 1 and 2 as a resource to allow you to look with ease, into the past and beyond the Christian propaganda? They are difficult volumes to get except as source/reference books in libraries. Also, the time they were published, the first decade of the 20th century, was in the heyday of Gaelic revival but I think their academic thoroughness precludes contemporary political motives.
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Thank you for the recommendation, Dermott. I’ll ask Stuart if he has them… and if not, I enjoy seeking old books out.
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They’re an academic study of social customs, laws and folklore of the ancient Celtic society and the (unofficial) that prevailed upto and shortly after Henry VIII’s and Elizabeth I’s rule.
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Sounds like an interesting study.
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It is, particularly in the laws related to family, education and children. There were very strict laws regarding dowries and the position and property rights of women. It can be quite turgid but the information is there to give you a different perspective of the stories you enjoy
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I am aware of some of those issues, though have not studied them in any depth. It is the earlier history that interests me most, but the thread of history doesn’t end and its echoes are still felt.
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Some Graphic novels are quite good, you know. Can I recommend you check out the ‘Mister Fox…’ series of Graphic Novels by Sue Vincent and Stuart France ?
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I’ll second that 🙂
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I’m on it
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