National Redeemer: Owain Glyndwr in Welsh Tradition

Abstract

National Redeemer [:] Owain Glyndwr in Welsh Tradition. By Elissa R. Henken. (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1996. Pp. x + 203, notes, bibliography. $45.00 cloth, $18.95 paper) Owain Glyndwr, Welsh nobleman who led a large-scale revolt against English rule during early years of fifteenth century, is probably best known outside of Wales as Shakespeare's Owen Glendower. As might be expected, roles played by Glyndwr in Welsh tradition differ greatly from Shakespeare's clownish braggart. Glyndwr figures in an incredibly diverse range of sources, including: fourteenth-century bardic praise poetry (pre-dating his uprising), fifteenth-century prophetic poetry, sixteenth-century chronicles, nineteenth-century historical romances, and contemporary oral tradition. Elissa Henken grapples admirably with this array of sources. In tracing changing perceptions of Owain Glyndwr, Henken moves deftly from written texts to oral narratives, weaving a discussion which is coherent, concise, and extremely engaging. This is an exemplary interdisciplinary study which should prove inspiring for anyone interested in interplay between history, folklore, and conceptions of identity. As title of her fourth chapter announces, Henken highlights the multifaceted character of Owain Glyndwr. Although she argues persuasively that Glyndwr is most commonly cast as national redeemer, savior of an oppressed nation, she gives ample attention to other roles played by Glyndwr in Welsh tradition, including trickster and master of magic arts. When dealing with contemporary oral narratives (collected by herself in field), she concentrates upon content rather than form. This is a study concerned with ways in which folklore plays a part in constructing, maintaining, and mediating hopes and aspirations of a people: The legends which grew up around Owain Glyndwr, depicting him as a redeemer-hero, are powerful statements of hope and expectation, carried from past and projected on future (87-88). The final chapter, Local Hero and Nationalist Symbol, contains an illuminating discussion of different spheres in which figure of Glyndwr circulates in contemporary Wales. A distinction is drawn between Glyndwr of localized legendry and symbol, former moving primarily along lines of oral transmission while latter is redeemer-hero discussed in books, popular songs, and political speeches. This discussion is extremely well balanced, and interaction between these two realms is not ignored: On local level, in valleys where Owain Glyndwr lived and fought, he is still a hero, but he is also more importantly and most definitely, a local hero. Both type and amount of knowledge people have about Glyndwr changes at local level. Transmission also differs. On level, transmission of information about Glyndwr is primarily through books and other forms of popular media. [....] At local level, though there is naturally some influence from outside sources, knowledge of Glyndwr is orally derived (14647). …