The British Isles are a unique melting pot of history and myth. Coming from the Celts (pronounced Kelts) - an ancient Bronze-age people who spread out across Ireland, France, western Germany, and Scandanavia. The myths of the British Isles are a combination of those influences. Many themes of Norse myth appear again in Britisy myths, but the legend of King Arthur, perhaps the best known British myth is largely influenced by French contributions.
Beowulf PowerPoint (as Acrobat file)
| Beowulf | Beowulf is, technically, a Norse story. The only existing version of the tale is, however, in old English. This is a modern adaptation of the tale - easier to read and more story-based. |
| Arthur | Okay, I'm going to be mean. I'm not giving you a link. The Arthur story is so huge that it's not easy to give you a single story to read. Instead, please refer to your homework sheet. You'll need to research the Arthur & Grail section on your own. Feel free to post on the group and ask questions. I'll be glad to help! |
| Tristan & Isolde | This love story may remind you of Cupid and Psyche a bit. There's British, Irish, and French interests all bound up together. |
| Tam-Lin | Tam Lin is an Irish poem that ties together elements from numerous earlier myths. It's an ongoing influence that has inspired music, film, and literature. |