1. BRICCRIU’S FEAST (Lecture 22)

2. NARRATIVE
TEXTS
TYPE
CHARACTERS
Mythological Cycle
Lebhor Gabala Erenn
sacred myth
Tuatha Dé Danann
Ulster Cycle
Briccriu’s Feast
Wooing of Etain
Cattleraid of Cooley
legend
folktale
Milesians under Conchobor : Cú Chulainn, Cú Roi, Fergus, Lugaid mac Con Roi

3. • Briccriu Nemthenga (“bitter-tongued”) or Biltenga (“bile-tongued”) • manipulation of conventions of praise and blame, honor and shame • cf. role of fili ( glam dícenn) • “champion’s portion” (curadmír) • flyting

4. Briccriu’s Feast
Mythic Subtext
feast at Briccriu’s house
underworld feast of Goibniu
Briccriu’s house newly built
palace miraculously appears at Samhain
heroes partially destroy house
palace attacked, destroyed by fire
hero fights old giant
(giant in field, Ercol, giant of western sea, Cú Roi)
young god fights old god
churl at beheading competition
death/defeat of god at Samhain

5. OLD MAN/OTHERWORLDLY BEING
YOUNG MAN/HERO
giants (Ercol)
churl
Sucellus the Good Striker
Dagda (club)
Cú Roi
Cú Chulainn

6. Bláithine Cú Roi Cú Chulainn