Brian O'Sullivan
Why Fionn is the greatest hero!
Hi Jordan.
This is, of course, something of a nonsense argument on my part as any decision on ‘better’ is entirely a matter of personal preference (and, therefore, completely subjective). Both the Fenian Cycle (Fionn) and the Ulster Cycle (Cú Chulainn) are recognised bodies of literature that have a number of similar patterns but my view is that Fionn was the greatest Irish hero simply because the Fenian Cycle is a lot more natural and has a greater sense of cultural authenticity.
It’s generally agreed that the Fenian Cycle remained peripheral to the written culture in Ireland between the 7th -12th century (mostly dominated by the church and later by the Normans and Gaelic lords). The stories were believed to have been predominantly transmitted orally through the generations until collected and put into written form in the 12th century.
The Ulster Cycle by contrast, was very much written for the dominant classes (feudal lords) by their literati. The professional writers of these lords were very familiar with international narratives such as the Illiad, the manuscripts on Alexander the Great, the Bible stories and so on, and these strongly influenced what they wrote. You can clearly see the influence of the Illiad in the Ulster Cycle, for example, by the fact that they’re all ‘hooning around’ in chariots, something that all the evidence indicates was highly unlikely given the forested and flooded terrain. Chariots might have worked well in the arid, flat sections of Asia Minor but they’d have bogged down fast in down-town Emhain Macha.
Anyway, that’s my ten cents worth!
Hi Jordan.
This is, of course, something of a nonsense argument on my part as any decision on ‘better’ is entirely a matter of personal preference (and, therefore, completely subjective). Both the Fenian Cycle (Fionn) and the Ulster Cycle (Cú Chulainn) are recognised bodies of literature that have a number of similar patterns but my view is that Fionn was the greatest Irish hero simply because the Fenian Cycle is a lot more natural and has a greater sense of cultural authenticity.
It’s generally agreed that the Fenian Cycle remained peripheral to the written culture in Ireland between the 7th -12th century (mostly dominated by the church and later by the Normans and Gaelic lords). The stories were believed to have been predominantly transmitted orally through the generations until collected and put into written form in the 12th century.
The Ulster Cycle by contrast, was very much written for the dominant classes (feudal lords) by their literati. The professional writers of these lords were very familiar with international narratives such as the Illiad, the manuscripts on Alexander the Great, the Bible stories and so on, and these strongly influenced what they wrote. You can clearly see the influence of the Illiad in the Ulster Cycle, for example, by the fact that they’re all ‘hooning around’ in chariots, something that all the evidence indicates was highly unlikely given the forested and flooded terrain. Chariots might have worked well in the arid, flat sections of Asia Minor but they’d have bogged down fast in down-town Emhain Macha.
Anyway, that’s my ten cents worth!
More Answered Questions
Lara
asked
Brian O'Sullivan:
I'm curious about the different covers for your Fionn series. I see there's a paperback with the "alternative" cover for just the book 1 in the series, so I'm wondering if the others will be available with that cover as well? Just because I like my books to match and really like that edition. :)
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