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Title:

Historia Brittonum - between Orality and Literacy. Preliminary Studies  
"Historia Brittonum" - między oralnością a piśmiennością. Preliminaria

Creator:

Nowak, Ewa

Subject and Keywords:

orality  
oralność   średniowieczna Walia   średniowieczna historiografia   legendy arturiańskie

Tags:

medieval Wales   medieval historiography   the Arthurian cycle

Description:

The following paper considers the oral and literary sources which might have served as a basis for the History of the Britons (Historia Brittonum), putatively attributed to the 9th century Welsh author Nennius. Given the legendary nature of some of the matter included in the History, such as stories from the Arthurian cycle, as well as the compilatory and in some instances self-contradictory character of the text, the work is supposed to be rooted in the tradition of orally transmitted lore. This tradition preserved knowledge of past events through the dark, i.e. illiterate age following the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain. On the other hand the literary sources used by the author of the History have been traced and the work seems to be imbued with the style of ancient annalists, notably Saint Jerome. As such Historia Brittonum should be regarded as being fixed on the verge between the age of oral tradition and that of actual written history.

Abstract:

The following paper considers the oral and literary sources which might have served as a basis for the History of the Britons (Historia Brittonum), putatively attributed to the 9th century Welsh author Nennius. Given the legendary nature of some of the matter included in the History, such as stories from the Arthurian cycle, as well as the compilatory and in some instances self-contradictory character of the text, the work is supposed to be rooted in the tradition of orally transmitted lore. This tradition preserved knowledge of past events through the dark, i.e. illiterate age following the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain. On the other hand the literary sources used by the author of the History have been traced and the work seems to be imbued with the style of ancient annalists, notably Saint Jerome. As such Historia Brittonum should be regarded as being fixed on the verge between the age of oral tradition and that of actual written history.

Place of publishing:

Wrocław

Publisher:

Pracownia Badań nad Tradycją Oralną

Contributor:

Torbus, Sławomir. Red.

Date:

2016

Date issued:

2015-

Resource Type:

text

Detailed Type:

czasopisma online

Format:

pdf   application/pdf

Identifier:

oai:repozytorium.uni.wroc.pl:79993   ISSN 2449–8181

DOI:

10.23734/QO.2016.2.1.115.140

Language:

eng   pol

Rights holder:

Copyright by Ewa Nowak