The Otherworld Voyage In Early Irish Literature - An Anthology Of Criticism

Prominent in the literature of early Ireland are the tales known as 'echtrai' (adventures) and 'immrama' (voyages), stories telling of journeys to the Otherworld of Celtic legend. These tales have long held a fascination for both scholars and general readers, but there is no satisfactory, comprehensive treatment of them in print. This anthology presents a selection of the most important studies of the subject, to which is added a number of new essays representing the current state of scholarship. A general introduction is provided and an extensive bibliography. Containing the most important critical materials for an understanding of the Irish Otherworld Voyage legends, this anthology will be of interest and use to teachers and students of early Irish history and literature, comparative literature and mythology. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii PREFACE ix INTRODUCTION xi Some New Light on the Brendan Legend / CHARLES PLUMMER 1 Clerical Sea Pilgrimages and the 'Imrama' / WILLIAM FLINT THRALL 15 On the Punishment of Sending Adrift / MARY E. BYRNE 22 An Apocryphal 'Book of Enoch and Elias' as a Possible Source of the 'Navigatio Sancti Brendani' / MARIO ESPOSITO 27 Review of 'Navigatio sancti Brendani Abbatis' / JAMES CARNEY 42 The Sinless Otherworld of 'Immram Brain' / PROINSIAS MAC CANA 52 The Earliest Bran Material / JAMES CARNEY 73 Two Observations Concerning the 'Navigatio Brendani' / LUDWIG BIELER 91 The Social Background to Irish 'Peregrinatio' / THOMAS CHARLES-EDWARDS 94 In the Wake of the Saint: 'The Brendan Voyage', an Epic Crossing of the Atlantic by Leather Boat / J. J. O’MEARA 109 The Location of the Otherworld in Irish Tradition / JOHN CAREY 113 Two Approaches to the Dating of 'Nauigatio Sancti Brendani' / DAVID N. DUMVILLE 120 Ireland and the Antipodes: The Heterodoxy of Virgil of Salzburg / JOHN CAREY 133 Some Analogues of the Old English 'Seafarer' from Hiberno-Latin Sources / COLIN A. IRELAND 143 Contributions to a Study of the Voyages of St. Brendan and St. Malo / SÉAMUS MAC MATHÚNA 157 Allegory in 'Navigatio Sancti Brendani' / DOROTHY ANN BRAY 175 The Role of the 'Cuilebad' in 'Immram Snédgusa 7 Maic Riagla' / KEVIN MURRAY 187 Subversion at Sea: Structure, Style and Intent in the 'Immrama' / THOMAS OWEN CLANCY 194 Monastic Voyaging and the 'Nauigatio' / JONATHAN M. WOODING 220 APPENDIX 246 BIBLIOGRAPHY 251 INDEX 279 Some New Light On The Brendan Legend / Charles Plummer -- Clerical Sea Pilgrimages And The Imrama / William Flint Thrall -- On The Punishment Of Sending Adrift / Mary E. Byrne -- An Apocryphal 'book Of Enoch And Elias' As A Possible Source Of The Navigatio Sancti Brendani / Mario Esposito -- Review Of Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis / James Carney -- The Sinless Otherworld Of Immram Brain / Proinsias Mac Cana -- The Earliest Bran Material / James Carney -- Two Observations Concerning The Navigatio Brendani / Ludwig Bieler -- The Social Background To Irish Peregrinatio / Thomas Charles-edwards. In The Wake Of The Saint: The Brendan Voyage, An Epic Crossing Of The Atlantic By Leather Boat / J.j. O'meara -- The Location Of The Otherworld In Irish Tradition / John Carey -- Two Approaches To The Dating Of Nauigatio Sancti Brendani / David N. Dumville -- Ireland And The Antipodes: The Heterodoxy Of Virgil Of Salzburg / John Carey. Some Analogues Of The Old English Seafarer From Hiberno-latin Sources / Colin A. Ireland -- Contributions To A Study Of The Voyages Of St Brendan And St Malo / Séamus Mac Mathúna -- Allegory In Navigatio Sancti Brendani / Dorothy Ann Bray -- The Role Of The Cuilebad In Immram Snédgusa 7 Maic Riagla / Kevin Murray -- Subversion At Sea: Structure, Style And Intent In The Immrama / Thomas Owen Clancy -- Monastic Voyaging And The Nauigatio / Johnathan M. Wooding. Jonathan M. Wooding, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 251-277) And Index. Some new light on the Brendan legend -- Charles Plummer Clerical sea pilgrimages and the Imrama -- William Flint Thrall On the punishment of sending adrift -- Mary E. Byrne -- An apocryphal 'Book of Enoch and Elias' as a possible source of the Navigatio Sancti Brendani -- Mario Esposito Review of Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis -- James Carney -- The sinless otherworld of Immram Brain -- Proinsias Mac Cana -- The earliest bran material -- James Carney Two observations concerning the Navigatio Brendani -- Ludwig Bieler -- The social background to Irish Peregrinatio -- Thomas Charles-Edwards. In the wake of the saint: The Brendan Voyage, an epic crossing of the Atlantic by leather boat -- J. J. O'Meara -- The location of the otherworld in Irish tradition -- John Carey Two approaches to the dating of Nauigatio Sancti Brendani -- David N. Dumville Ireland and the Antipodes: the heterodoxy of Virgil of Salzburg -- John Carey Some analogues of the Old English Seafarer from Hiberno-Latin sources -- Colin A. Ireland Contributions to a study of the voyages of St Brendan and St Malo -- Séamus Mac Mathúna Allegory in Navigatio Sancti Brendani -- Dorothy Ann Bray -- The role of the Cuilebad in Immram Snédgusa 7 Maic Riagla -- Kevin Murray Subversion at sea: structure, style and intent in the Immrama -- Thomas Owen Clancy Monastic voyaging and the Nauigatio-- Johnathan M. Wooding.