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Phd Coversheet April 2012 This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: • This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. • A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. • This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. • The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. • When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. ‘The Evolution of Deirdriu in the Ulster Cycle’ Kate Louise Mathis Presented for the degree of PhD by research University of Edinburgh 2010 Declaration of Own Work I, Kate Louise Mathis, declare that this thesis is my own, original work. No part of it has previously been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification, and no part of it has been composed in collaboration with any other individual, except where the assistance of another individual has been acknowledged. Signed: Date: Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. v Prefatory note ..........................................................................................................................vi Abbreviations .........................................................................................................................vii Introduction: Deirdriu/ Deirdre: Textual Descent and Popular Perception ............................. 1 Chapter One: Critical Perceptions of Deirdriu/ Deirdre, Longes mac n-Uislenn and Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach ................................................................................................................5 1: Manuscripts of Longes mac n-Uislenn, and earliest references to Clann Uislenn .............5 1.1: Manuscripts of prose versions........................................................................................... 5 1.1.2: Leabhar Laignech .......................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3: Leabhar Buide Leacain .................................................................................................. 5 1.1.4: Egerton 1782 .................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.5: Other copies of Longes mac n-Uislenn .......................................................................... 6 1.1.6: The Tale-Lists ................................................................................................................ 6 1.2: Earlier references to the fate of Clann Uislenn ................................................................. 9 1.2.1: 'Innid scél scaílter n-airich'............................................................................................. 9 1.2.2: 'Aidheda Forni Do h-Uaislib Erenn'............................................................................. 10 1.2.3: 'Clanna Ollaman Uaisle Emna'..................................................................................... 12 1.3: Other references to Clann Uislenn .................................................................................. 13 1.3.1: In Leabhar Laignech .................................................................................................... 13 1.3.2: In Leabhar Buide Leacain............................................................................................ 14 1.3.3: In other manuscripts ..................................................................................................... 15 1.3.4: Dindsenchus ................................................................................................................. 17 2: Editions/ literary treatments of Longes mac n-Uislenn ...................................................... 18 2.1: Geoffrey Keating and Foras Feasa Ar Éirinn................................................................. 18 2.2: James Macpherson's 'Ossian' and Dar-thula ................................................................... 18 2.3: Theophilus O'Flanagan's Derdri...................................................................................... 20 2.4: Eugene O'Curry's Trí Truaige na Scélaigheachta...........................................................22 2.5: John Francis Campbell's Leabhar na Féinne .................................................................. 22 2.6: Deirdriu during the Revival............................................................................................. 23 2.7: Stokes, Windisch and Irische Texte................................................................................. 34 2.8: Hull and Longes mac n-Uislenn ...................................................................................... 35 i 3: The manuscript tradition of Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach.............................................. 36 3.1: The Glenmasan Manuscript – Adv. 72.2.3 [NLS 56]...................................................... 36 3.2: Subsequent manuscripts .................................................................................................. 37 3.3: Whitley Stokes and Irische Texte.................................................................................... 38 3.4: Donald Mackinnon and Glenmasan in The Celtic Review .............................................. 38 3.5: Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith and Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach.................................... 39 4: Critical commentary on Longes mac n-Uislenn, Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach and Deirdriu .................................................................................................................................. 40 4.1: Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 40 4.2: Critical notice of the later tradition ................................................................................. 41 4.3: The critics and Deirdriu................................................................................................... 42 4.3.1: Kingship and sovereignty............................................................................................. 42 4.3.2: Deirdriu as femme fatale............................................................................................... 44 4.3.3: The elopement scene .................................................................................................... 46 4.3.4: Snow white, blood red.................................................................................................. 47 Chapter Two: Outline of methodological approach ..............................................................49 1: Techniques of analysis: narratologies and the Early Irish tale........................................... 49 1.1: Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 49 1.2: Martin, Todorov and Tristram......................................................................................... 50 1.3: The nature of character.................................................................................................... 58 1.4: Statement of theoretical intent for subsequent analysis ..................................................61 Chapter Three: Deirdriu in the early tradition ...................................................................... 63 1: Re-statement of intent for chapter...................................................................................... 63 1.1: Manuscripts and editions of Longes mac n-Uislenn for subsequent analysis ................. 63 2: Longes mac n-Uislenn........................................................................................................ 63 2.1: The editorial principles of Hull and O'Curry................................................................... 63 2.2: The episodes of Longes mac n-Uislenn........................................................................... 65 2.2.1: Birth, prophecy and naming [SI, EI i, ii; 1–84]............................................................68 Commentary ........................................................................................................................... 69 2.2.2: Upbringing and childhood influences [SI, EII; ll.85–108]........................................... 76 Commentary ........................................................................................................................... 77 2.2.3: Proposition and departure [SI, EIII i, ii; iii (embedded); iv; ll.109–37]....................... 80 Commentary ........................................................................................................................... 82 2.2.4: Service with the king of Scotland; the decision to return [SII, EI i; ii; iii; iv (embedded); ll.138–70] ..............................................................................................................................
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