The Legend of St Brendan: A Comparative Study of the Latin and Anglo-Norman Versions (The Northern World, 39)

"The Legend of Brendan" describes how the Irish abbot journeys to Paradise and the marvellous encounters he experiences. The popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, in particular, an Anglo-Norman reworking which excises much devotional material, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. By their varying focus on ecclesiastical matters and fantastic imagery, the two versions demonstrate a progressive movement away from hagiography towards adventure. Studies of the two versions rarely discuss the elements of the fantastic. Following a summary of authorship, audiences and sources, this comparative study follows a structural approach to the texts and considers what the fantastic imagery achieves, and addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels. Contents ......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 14 The aims of the study......Page 16 Summary of the narratives......Page 18 Methodology......Page 20 Other scholarship......Page 23 Introduction......Page 28 The dates, manuscripts and audience of the Navigatio......Page 29 Genres of the two narratives......Page 34 The author, dates, manuscripts and audience of the Anglo-Norman Voyage......Page 46 Before the Voyage......Page 58 Peregrinus and Exile......Page 65 The Voyage of Brendan: an actual journey or fantastic fiction? ......Page 68 The Voyage of Brendan and the immrama......Page 70 The Otherworld and other early influences ......Page 74 The Voyage Home......Page 77 Conclusion......Page 82 Introduction......Page 84 Todorov's model......Page 85 Application of the model......Page 90 Definition of the 'uncanny'......Page 91 Mundane or uncanny?......Page 92 Uncanny-familiar......Page 96 Establishing the coracle as 'familiar'......Page 99 The Supernumeraries......Page 101 The patterns of the journey......Page 110 The 'pure uncanny'......Page 113 Uncanny silence and spiritual darkness: the Deserted Citadel......Page 114 Religious symbolism and preordination......Page 115 The uncanny......Page 117 Fantastic-uncanny......Page 119 Leading towards the fantastic-uncanny......Page 121 Enormous creatures: the Island of Sheep and Jasconius......Page 122 From the uncanny to the fantastic-uncanny......Page 123 Gradation towards the fantastic......Page 130 The Neutral Angels......Page 131 Sources......Page 132 A respite from the fantastic imagery?......Page 134 Conclusion......Page 139 Introduction......Page 142 The transition from the 'fantastic-uncanny' to the 'pure fantastic' and the monastic ideal......Page 145 The Isle of Ailbe......Page 146 The ascent towards the pure fantastic......Page 152 The pure fantastic: the mysterious provision of food and the flaming arrow ......Page 153 The provision of food......Page 154 The flaming arrow and other elements ......Page 157 A vital ingredient in the gradation towards the fantastic......Page 160 The negative connotations of water......Page 161 The springs on the Isle of Ailbe......Page 162 The Intoxicating Spring......Page 165 The Coagulated Sea......Page 169 The significance of these scenes......Page 171 The conflicts of monsters......Page 173 The first conflict......Page 175 The second conflict of monsters......Page 178 The credibility of the conflicts of monsters......Page 179 The rewards of faith—a temporary respite from the fantastic?......Page 181 Conclusion......Page 186 Introduction......Page 190 Todorov's model......Page 191 The Crystal Pillar......Page 192 A natural phenomenon......Page 193 Fantastic-uncanny......Page 195 Religious symbolism......Page 196 Sources......Page 197 Unlocking the symbolism......Page 199 A natural phenomenon or a supernatural experience?......Page 202 Religious significance......Page 206 Claustrophobia......Page 207 A safe environment for discussing damnation......Page 208 The significance of the Crystal Pillar and the Smithy of Hell......Page 210 Part Two Human representations of the diabolical and the divine......Page 211 Sources......Page 212 The moral treatment......Page 216 The punishments......Page 217 Christ's mercy......Page 220 Judas on the 'threshold'......Page 221 Paul the Hermit......Page 229 Source......Page 230 Preparation for Paradise......Page 231 Fantastic imagery......Page 235 The significance of the two meetings......Page 236 Part Three Achieving Paradise......Page 237 Sources......Page 238 Christian allegory and Celtic mythology......Page 240 Liminality......Page 241 The treatment of the fantastic......Page 243 Conclusion......Page 247 Principal differences between the Navigatio and the Anglo-Norman Voyage......Page 250 Todorov and the fantastic......Page 253 Appendix One The genealogy of the manuscripts of the Navigatio and the Anglo-Norman Voyage......Page 260 Appendix Two Translation of the Anglo-Norman Voyage of St Brendan......Page 272 Bibliography......Page 328 Index......Page 342 The Legend of St Brendan is a study of two accounts of a voyage undertaken by Brendan, a sixth-century Irish saint. The immense popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, including a twelfth-century Anglo-Norman reworking of the narrative which excises much of the devotional material seen in the ninth-century Navigatio Sancti Brendani abbatis and changes the emphasis, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. The vernacular version focuses on marvellous imagery and the trials and tribulations of a long sea-voyage. Together the two versions demonstrate a movement away from hagiography towards adventure.Studies of the two versions rarely discuss the elements of the fantastic. Following a summary of authorship, audiences and sources, this comparative study adopts a structural approach to the two versions of the Brendan narrative. It considers what the fantastic imagery achieves and addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels. The Legend of St Brendan is a study of two accounts of a voyage undertaken by Brendan, a sixth-century Irish saint. The immense popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, including a twelfth-century Anglo-Norman reworking of the narrative which excises much of the devotional material seen in the ninth-century Navigatio Sancti Brendani abbatis and changes the emphasis, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. The vernacular version focuses on marvellous imagery and the trials and tribulations of a long sea-voyage. Together the two versions demonstrate a movement away from hagiography towards adventure. Studies of the two versions rarely discuss the elements of the fantastic. Following a summary of authorship, audiences and sources, this comparative study adopts a structural approach to the two versions of the Brendan narrative. It considers what the fantastic imagery achieves and addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels "The Legend of St Brendan is a study of two accounts of a voyage undertaken by Brendan, a sixth-century Irish saint. The immense popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, including a twelfth-century Anglo-Norman reworking of the narrative which excises much of the devotional material seen in the ninth-century Navigatio Sancti Brendani abbatis and changes the emphasis, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. The vernacular version focuses on marvellous imagery and the trials and tribulations of a long sea-voyage. Together the two versions demonstrate a movement away from hagiography towards adventure." --Book Jacket Presenting a comparative study of the Latin and Anglo-Norman Versions of the Voyage of Brendan, this work offers an insight into the way that fantastic imagery was used to discuss sensitive theological issues in one of the most popular medieval narratives. It also addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels The comparative study of the Latin and Anglo-Norman Versions of the Voyage of St Brendan offers an insight into the way that fantastic imagery was used to discuss sensitive theological issues in one of the most popular medieval narratives.