World War I in Welsh Literature

World War I in Welsh Literature

• Early war poetry reflected the impact of WWI on Welsh society, showcasing diverse perspectives:

  • Hedd Wyn's "Y Rhyfel" ("The War") portrayed the loss of faith and the devastating effects of war.
  • R. Williams Parry's "Englynion Coffa Hedd Wyn" mourned the death of a young poet, using the Englyn form for emotional reflection.
  • Edward Thomas's "Rain" depicted the loneliness and fear soldiers endured.
  • Wilfred Owen's poems, "Dulce et Decorum est" and "The parable of the old man and the young," highlighted the lack of glory in war and challenged conventional patriotic ideals.

• 1930s reflections on war explored the psychological impact of the conflict and post-war societal changes:

  • David Jones's "In Parenthesis" offered an epic poem from a post-war perspective, showcasing soldiers' experiences in terms of boredom, fear, decreased compassion, and death.
  • Kate Roberts's "Traed Mewn Cyffion" ("Feet in Chains") delved into the hardships of working-class families, particularly quarry workers, revealing issues of poverty, child labor, and the disparity between the lives of younger and older generations.
  • Lewis Jones's "Cwmardy" ("We Live") presented a socialist perspective on the conflict, exploring class struggles and the influence of Marxist ideas.

• Contemporary poetry revisited the war's legacy:

  • Owen Sheers's "Mametz Wood" exemplified the remembrance of World War I years later.
  • Ifor ap Glyn's "Cadw Oed" ("Preserve Age") used different languages, suggesting the lasting impact of war, possibly highlighting the international context.

Caradoc Evans – My People

• Themes:

  • Evans's "My People" criticized hypocrisy, cultural decline, and tyranny.

• Language:

  • Evans employed creative linguistic innovation, combining elements of invented English, distorted Welsh dialects, biblical language, and calques from Welsh. His use of grotesque translations of Welsh words further enriched his writing style.

• Controversial reception:

  • Evans's work received acclaim in England but faced strong opposition in Wales, with accusations of depicting Wales negatively.

Saunders Lewis

• Monica:

  • Themes: morality, individual choice, conflict between tradition and modernity.
  • Language: symbolic imagery, formal language.

• Blodeuwedd:

  • Themes: different forms of love (cariad and serch).
  • Language: poetic, symbolic, playing with nuances of the word "love."

• Blodeuwedd as a Mabinogi adaptation:

  • Characters: key figures from the original story are central, but their actions differ in significant ways. Gronu stayed, rather than fleeing, and didn't ask others to sacrifice themselves.

Dorothy Edwards & Rhys Lewis

• Dorothy Edwards's "The Conquered":

  • Themes: power dynamics, struggle for Welsh identity, critique of traditional masculinity.
  • Contemporary interpretations: feminist analysis, highlighting the limitations faced by female authors in portraying male characters

• Rhys Lewis's "The Dilemma of Catherine Fuchsias":

  • Themes: patriarchal society, female independence, sexuality.
  • Contemporary interpretations: feminist perspective on repressed desire, challenging social constraints on women.

The Industrial Novel

• Definition: A genre depicting the lives of industrial workers, focusing on themes like class struggle, economic hardship, and social change.

• History: Originating in the 19th and 20th centuries, this genre was influenced by the Industrial Revolution.

• Key works and themes:

  • Kate Roberts's Traed Mewn Cyffion: Explored the hardship of quarry workers, child labor, poverty, and the challenges faced by three generations.
  • Lewis Jones's Cwmardy: Examined socialist and communist ideas, class struggle, exploitation, and the transformation of miners from workers to revolutionaries. This novel portrayed real historical events, and their link to social and labour movements in Wales.
  • How Green Was My Valley: A nostalgic, but sometimes criticized, portrayal of Welsh identity and the impact of industrialization and change.

Dylan Thomas & R.S. Thomas

• Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood":

  • Themes: love, desire, community, isolation, nostalgia, Welshness.
  • Language: descriptive, poetic, comedic, incorporating Welsh influence.
  • Style: radio drama, showcasing distinct narrators.

• R.S. Thomas's poetry:

  • Themes: Welshness, rural life, nature, spirituality.
  • Language: minimalist, focusing on imagery and simplicity, although incorporating Welsh poetic tradition.
  • Style: free verse, imaginative.

Plot Summaries

• Concise summaries of various novels, highlighting key plot points and themes for each work— Traed Mewn Cyffion, Cwmardy, How Green Was My Valley, A Week in Future Wales, One Moonlit Night, The Blue Book of Nebo.

Recognition of Key Authors & Works

• A comprehensive list of notable Welsh authors and their significant works.

Poetry Identification

• A list of important poems and poets, enabling identification of key poetic works.

Welsh Literary Terms

• Definitions of Welsh literary terms, including Anterliwt, Talwrn y Beirdd, Meuryn, and WWE.

Explore the profound impact of World War I through the lens of Welsh literature. This quiz delves into poetry from notable Welsh poets like Hedd Wyn, R. Williams Parry, and Edward Thomas, showcasing their unique reflections on war. Analyze how these works capture the emotional and psychological effects of the conflict on society.