2. C eltic iopLaences on tbe bistoR # op tbe JpiRst Q ge Bjr m crnie BafinfieLD Introduction *Celtic Things’ In 1957 The Sifniar/J/ion was In describing Celtic things as described by Edward Crankshaw, a "mad“, Tolkien was probably referring reader of Allen and Unwin, as having to the unsatisfactory state of the tales “something of that mad, bright-eyed as they have come down to us. Celtic beauty that perplexes all Anglo-Saxons tales lack the superficial cohesiveness in face of Celtic art" and containing and structure of Greek mythology, “eye-splitting Celtic names*. and some of the Norse matter. The J.H.H.Tolkien’s reply was indignant. Of druids allowed nothing concerning the names he wrote: “ Needless to say. their religion to be written down, so they are not Celtic," adding: “Neither that the tales were not recorded until are the Tales. 1 do know Celtic things after the decline of the beliefs upon (many in their original languages Irish wliich they had tested. Suppression and Welsh), and feel for them a of the old faith was stronger in Britain, certain distaste: largely for their and may account for the more garbled fundamental unreason. They have state of the Mabinogion and of the bright colour, but are like a broken Arthurian matter. In Ireland, tales stained-glass window reassembled were written down by Christian monks without design. They are, in fact, *mad’, who not only suppressed the divinity as your reader says...’ .1 of the heroes and grafted their history on to the early chapters of And there one might be tempted the Bible, but were engaged in a to leave matters, seeking the process of synthesising various local inspirations of Tolkien’s mythology traditions whose meanings they only in the Germanic material for probably did not understand. But to which he expressed an affection. dismiss “Celtic things’ on these However, by 1950, Tolkien was grounds would be to throw out the admitting that he had at the outset baby with the bathwater. With this desired his work to possess “the fair thought in mind, I perused The elusive quality that some call Celtic* Slim aril!Jon briefly to see if any trace (still qualifying this with the gloss of the Celtic “baby” was to be found "though it is rarely found in genuine in Arda. ancient Celtic things the influence of the Welsh language, upon the development of Sindarin he later The Geography o f Arda freely acknowledged.1 The surviving Celts of the Tolkien was apt to deny the western seaboard resemble the sources of his material (as, for instance, peoples of Bcleriand in otte important the debt he owed to Wagner's Ring«). respect, and that is their abode on the He was familiar with both branches of shores of the ocean, with the vast the Celtic languages, and with Celtic unnavigable 3ea stretching out mythology! the Celts too, as the westward before them. It. is hardly Germanic tribes, belong to the North­ surprising, therefore, that, it is from west corner of the Old World of the Celtic matter that Tolkien has which The SilmariiHon and The Lord of drawn the inspiration for that which the Rings represent the legendary past. lay upon the ocean's further shores. It is likely, therefore, that the sound quality of Sindarin is not the only Alwyn and Brinley Rees point Celtic feature of Tolkien’s world. In out8 that “In metaphysical formulation the following article I propose to a ’crossing of water’ always implies a examine the mythology of the First change of state or status“! to the Irish Age for Celtic narrative influences, there therefore existed across the the Second Age and the question of Great Sea (as they too call the language being worthy of separate Atlantic) a happy Other world, home of study in their own right. the gods, known variously as the land 3 of the Living, the Islands of the Blessed It was from the final fruits of or the land of Promise; “a paradise over­ Telperion and Laurelin that the Sun and seas, situate in some unknown, and, moon were formed, and the Silmarils, except for favoured mortals, last repositories upon Earth of their unknowable island of the west ...”6. light, were objects of quest, as are the Jewels strew the shores of Valinor, and Other-world apples of Celtic legend. upon the Land o f. the Living The male and female nature of the “dragonslones and crystals rain".7 Irish Trees of Valinor has its analogies too voyagers reach their goal after passing in the numerous male and female tree- various enchanted islands and traversing pairs of the Celtic world, such as the a final hedge of mist. Valinor similarly pines of Deirdre and Naoise, or the was guarded by the Enchanted Isles, rose bush of Esyllt and the vine of where 'the waves sighed for ever upon Try stan. dark, rocks shrouded in mist'.* There are tree Centres in Tolkien’s mythology with other But perhaps the most famous characteristics closer to Irish models Other-world island in Celtic legend is than to the Yggdrasil Centre. Perhaps the Arthurian Avalon, derived from the the best example in The SiJmarHh'on is Welsh “Availswn’ , Place of the Apple Valmar.1- A brief comparison of this Trees. Tolkien relates that a portion of sanctuary with Uisneuh, the sacred the high Elves returning from Middle- centre of Ireland13, will illustrate the earth dwelt upon an island within sight similarities; of Aman (Tol Eressea); the haven for “In the midst of the plain beyond their ships upon this isle they called by the mountains they built their city, the name of “Avallone". It is hardly Valmar of many bells"; the royal seat possible to doubt that the similarity of of Tara; these names is intended, that under the “Before its western gate there enchantment of secondary belief one is was a green mound, Ezellohar"; the hill to view the tales of Avalon as but a of Uisnech to the west of Tara, faded memory of Avallone of Eressea. “The Mahanaxar, the Ring of Loom, near to the golden gates of The other chief similarity Valmar”. the rath or enclosure at between Arda and the world of Celtic Uisnech whieh held the board for the mythology lies in its sacred centres. sacred fate-game of fidchell, Mythologies world wide speak of a upon the mound ... the two single Centre, the World Axis, an trees of Valinor“: the Ash of Uisnech umbilical link between our world and (the feminine centre! and (he L.ia Fail, the Other, Us chief symbols are those the pillar -stone of Tara (the masculine of mountain, pillar and tree. Each centre); people, however, observed its own "... the dews of Telperion and territorial Centre, so that the Earth in the rains that fell from Laurelin Varda ancient times was full of such symbolic jt hoarded in great vats like shining lakes, holy places.9 that were to all the land of the Valar as wells of water and of light": Connie's The world of The SUtnariUion too Well and the Well of Segais. abounds with sacred centres of various models. Those in whieh the axis is represented by a tree may indeed have The History been inspired by the Norse Centre, with the world-tree Vggdrasil and the three The historical pattern set out in wells at its roots. However, Celtic The Siimariilion strongly resembles that mythology also has its tree Centres, of the Irish mythological cycle, such as Emain Ablach, the Other-world particularly as related by Charles “Palace of Apple Trees". The goddess Squire in his Ceitic Myth and Legend, a who invited Bran across the sea gave work with which Tolkien could have him as token a “silver white-blossomed been familiar. The Elves may be branch from the apple tree of Emain in equated with the Tuatha De Danann, which branch and fruit are one"; Niam, originally the gods of the Cells but in a similar situation, offered to Oisin a presented by monkish redactors as an golden apple.10 These apple trees of immortal race who inhabited Ireland silver and gold bear more resemblance before the coming of the Gaels; "the to Telperion and Laurelin than does most handsome and delightful company, Vggdrasil, these are, indeed, to quote the fairest of form, the most Yeats “the silver apples of the moon, distinguished in ... their skill In music the golden apples of the sun.“11 and playing, the most gifted in mind and temperament that ever came to ’ loves the coasts and the isles’ .17 Ireland.’ » A resume of the histories Manannan is the son of the sea-god Ler. of both peoples will make the He is known by the title of 'Lord of similarities plainer still. the Headlands’ , and is the special patron of sailors. Like Ossfc, he The Elves camo to Middle-earth summons storms. His homes are the from the city of Tirlon in Valinor; they isles of Man and Arran. Of Uinen, knew wars and sorrows in their Ion® Case’s spouse, Tolkien had this to say; labours against Morgoth, until their ’ to her mariners cry, for she can lay fading and final departure into the calm upon the waves, restraining the West to make way for the age of Men. wildness of Ossfe’ .1« ’ Fand’ , the name The Tuatha De Danann came to Ireland of Manannan's wife, means ’ gentle’. from the Other-world cities of Findias, Fallas, Murlas and Gorias. They knew Orome 'is a hunter of monsters wars and sorrows in their long struggles and fell beasts, and he delights in against the Fomorian demons, only to be horses and in hounds ..