Reading through the course documents I read that there is a lot of magic in this poem. I think I am too simple minded and missed it...What was so magical about war caused by Medb's selfish desire to equal or out do her husband's wealth?
I haven't finished reading yet, but I am finding it difficult to see where the supernatural is interferring also. The worlds are less separate, but reading through some of the power point slides I noticed that the women may very well be goddesses living in the mortal world. I think that makes it slightly more difficult to identify the magical aspects of this myth.
Hey Sarah, I'm reaching into what little knowledge on magic that I have an seeing where it is referred to in the book The Tain. The first thing that came to mind is when Cu Chulainn's father comes and heals him. This lead me to think about herbs. I have herd some friends referred to as Kitchen witches, and this reference basically means that they can do magic with herbs (in the kitchen...using herbs in their meals for specific reasons...like lavender to make you sleepy) Herbs have been known for their medicinal qualities and many people consider today the practice of using herbs for medicine as a 'new age' practice. Another time herbs are used in the book is when Cu Chulainn and his foster brother Fer Diad are fighting. At night their caretakers do their best to heal their wounds with herbal mixtures. The one goddess Morrigan was also a great example of magic - she turns into several animals and tricks Cu Chulainn several times in the book. The last example of magic that I noted was Cu Chulainn's cloak of invisibility that he got from his father. He was able to use it to transform himself into an ugly unrecognizable person and go into battle without anyone knowing it was him. Those are the three things that come to mind when I think of how magic relates to this book.
Thanks for your comment. I didn't really think the herbs were magical, but more medicinal. And as for the goddess Morrigan being able to change shapes, I owed that to her being a god. But if I use my imagination I can see how those 2 things could be considered magical. Thanks again for you help in supporting the magic.
Hello I wanted to post my comment because I really liked the magic powers of Cu Chulainn that are described in the poem. His powers are closely tie to his environment, and the poetry in which the story is written, makes it easy to be missed. For instance as mentioned in another post he wears an invisible cloak that is “given to him by his foster-father in the dark arts”.(108.33) this is not referring to Sualdam who is his blood father. Another sight of his magical powers is when he sends out chants that are “echoed by the goblins and ghouls and sprites of the glen and the fiends of the air” (108.29) through the entire poem I found a couple o episodes in which he himself made magic but I cant seen to find them to quote them to you except the one in which he chants: “I summon the waters to come to my aid,’ said Cu Chulainn. ‘I summon heaven and earth and above all the Cronn.’ The Black waters of the Cronn will keep them from Muirthemne, until soldier’s work be done up north at Mount Ochaine. And the water rose to the tree-tops.”(66.9-16) Besides Cu Chulainn there are other characters that also have magical powers. The woman poet Fedelm that Queen Mebd encountered in the Tain Begins has the power of sight. Dubthach the Beetle of Ulster has visions, and some other characters also have magical powers; but like I said, the way in which the poem is written can easily misguide one to miss them.
Looking at the culture in question, I'd say that the magic was more an everyday affair than something special that stands out in big bursts. For Cu to be able to do what he did at all was pretty magical for them. For him to meet immortal beings at all and to know what he should and should not do was magical. The Druids were a part of everyday life and they could, quite literally, control Nature. In fact, we get our first look at a magical seer before we even enter the first battle.
Sarah, I too did not really see anything magical in the myth. I think it may also be because I read it with a bias after I read that Queen Medb was engaging her society in war resulting in bloodshed because of her selfish reasons. It seemed really unethical to go to war because of a bull which is not essential to the society as a whole. However, The only one magical thing which I can think of is the fact that Queen Medb's daughter, Finnabair was brought back into the myth after she had died.
I don't think that going to war was magical but once the war was started there was magic involved. From Cu Chulainn's transformation to Queen Medb asking the outcome of the war through fortune telling magic plays a big part in Celtic mythology. I agree that going to war just to try to be equal to your husband isn't magical I think the events in the war were magical.
I haven't finished reading yet, but I am finding it difficult to see where the supernatural is interferring also. The worlds are less separate, but reading through some of the power point slides I noticed that the women may very well be goddesses living in the mortal world. I think that makes it slightly more difficult to identify the magical aspects of this myth.
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI'm reaching into what little knowledge on magic that I have an seeing where it is referred to in the book The Tain. The first thing that came to mind is when Cu Chulainn's father comes and heals him. This lead me to think about herbs. I have herd some friends referred to as Kitchen witches, and this reference basically means that they can do magic with herbs (in the kitchen...using herbs in their meals for specific reasons...like lavender to make you sleepy) Herbs have been known for their medicinal qualities and many people consider today the practice of using herbs for medicine as a 'new age' practice. Another time herbs are used in the book is when Cu Chulainn and his foster brother Fer Diad are fighting. At night their caretakers do their best to heal their wounds with herbal mixtures. The one goddess Morrigan was also a great example of magic - she turns into several animals and tricks Cu Chulainn several times in the book. The last example of magic that I noted was Cu Chulainn's cloak of invisibility that he got from his father. He was able to use it to transform himself into an ugly unrecognizable person and go into battle without anyone knowing it was him. Those are the three things that come to mind when I think of how magic relates to this book.
-Heather
Heather,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I didn't really think the herbs were magical, but more medicinal. And as for the goddess Morrigan being able to change shapes, I owed that to her being a god. But if I use my imagination I can see how those 2 things could be considered magical. Thanks again for you help in supporting the magic.
Hello
ReplyDeleteI wanted to post my comment because I really liked the magic powers of Cu Chulainn that are described in the poem. His powers are closely tie to his environment, and the poetry in which the story is written, makes it easy to be missed. For instance as mentioned in another post he wears an invisible cloak that is “given to him by his foster-father in the dark arts”.(108.33) this is not referring to Sualdam who is his blood father. Another sight of his magical powers is when he sends out chants that are “echoed by the goblins and ghouls and sprites of the glen and the fiends of the air” (108.29) through the entire poem I found a couple o episodes in which he himself made magic but I cant seen to find them to quote them to you except the one in which he chants:
“I summon the waters to come to my aid,’ said Cu Chulainn. ‘I summon heaven and earth and above all the Cronn.’
The Black waters of the Cronn
will keep them from Muirthemne,
until soldier’s work be done
up north at Mount Ochaine.
And the water rose to the tree-tops.”(66.9-16)
Besides Cu Chulainn there are other characters that also have magical powers. The woman poet Fedelm that Queen Mebd encountered in the Tain Begins has the power of sight. Dubthach the Beetle of Ulster has visions, and some other characters also have magical powers; but like I said, the way in which the poem is written can easily misguide one to miss them.
Looking at the culture in question, I'd say that the magic was more an everyday affair than something special that stands out in big bursts. For Cu to be able to do what he did at all was pretty magical for them. For him to meet immortal beings at all and to know what he should and should not do was magical. The Druids were a part of everyday life and they could, quite literally, control Nature. In fact, we get our first look at a magical seer before we even enter the first battle.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I too did not really see anything magical in the myth. I think it may also be because I read it with a bias after I read that Queen Medb was engaging her society in war resulting in bloodshed because of her selfish reasons. It seemed really unethical to go to war because of a bull which is not essential to the society as a whole. However, The only one magical thing which I can think of is the fact that Queen Medb's daughter, Finnabair was brought back into the myth after she had died.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that going to war was magical but once the war was started there was magic involved. From Cu Chulainn's transformation to Queen Medb asking the outcome of the war through fortune telling magic plays a big part in Celtic mythology. I agree that going to war just to try to be equal to your husband isn't magical I think the events in the war were magical.
ReplyDelete