Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Welsh Language and Literature explained
This chapter discusses the antiquity of the Welsh language, the challenges of accessing ancient Welsh poetry, and the efforts of Owen Jones and Dr.
What happens
This chapter discusses the antiquity of the Welsh language, the challenges of accessing ancient Welsh poetry, and the efforts of Owen Jones and Dr. Owen to publish Welsh literary works, culminating in the publication of the Mabinogeon by Lady Charlotte Guest.
Themes in this chapter
Cultural Transmission and Education
The chapter highlights the efforts to preserve and disseminate Welsh literary heritage, emphasizing the importance of cultural transmission through publication and scholarship.
Key passages
“The Welsh language is one of the oldest in Europe. It possesses poems the origin of which is referred with probability to the sixth century.”
Welsh is among Europe's most ancient languages, with some poems likely originating in the 500s AD.
Establishes the antiquity and significance of the Welsh language.
“Till within the last half-century these compositions remained buried in the libraries of colleges or of individuals, and so difficult of access that no successful attempt was made to give them to the world.”
Until about fifty years ago, these works were hidden in private and college libraries, too inaccessible for any successful publication effort.
Describes the historical inaccessibility of Welsh literature.
“This reproach was removed after ineffectual appeals to the patriotism of the gentry of Wales, by Owen Jones, a furrier of London, who at his own expense collected and published the chief productions of Welsh literature, under the title of the Myvyrian Archaeology of Wales.”
Owen Jones, a London furrier, personally funded the collection and publication of major Welsh literary works as the Myvyrian Archaeology of Wales, after failing to rouse the Welsh gentry's patriotism.
Highlights Owen Jones's pivotal role in preserving Welsh literature.