Gone Medieval

Erotic Medieval Poet: Gwerful Mechain

Mar 4, 2023
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INSIGHT

Evolution of Welsh Bardic Tradition

  • Welsh bardic tradition lasted centuries and evolved significantly after the 1282 English conquest.
  • Bards adapted from court poets serving princes to traveling poets surviving through noble patronage and monasteries.
INSIGHT

Status and Role of Bards

  • Bards held high social status and required extensive education including apprenticeship and examinations.
  • They preserved Welsh culture by conveying law, legend, and tradition, even as political power shifted.
INSIGHT

Female Poets in Medieval Wales

  • Female poets like Gwerful Mechain were excluded from male bardic guilds but existed mostly from high social status.
  • She mainly produced religious poetry but also wrote ribald and irreverent verse showcasing female perspective.
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