Finding Fairies in Greek Myths

Professor’s Corner
10 December 2014
7.00-8.30PM
Denton Public Library - South Branch

Telling stories is part of human society, whether it takes the form of mythology, fairy tales, lessons, or modern-day novels. Some stories are told over and over again, but the ways they change in the retelling provides fascinating perspectives on both the story and the storytellers. This is the case when the Greek myth about Orpheus and Eurydice is retold in the Middle English romance Sir Orfeo, transporting the Classical story into a medieval Celtic setting. What happens when we find medieval fairies in a Greek myth? When the underworld of the dead is replaced with Fairyland? In this presentation, I will discuss the ways medieval authors used fairies to explore new ideas in old tales.

We will look at two texts. I have provided PDF copies of both texts here:

• "Orpheus and Eurydice" from Book X of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Translated into Modern English by Allen Mandelbaum.
• Sir Orfeo. Translated into Modern English by J. R. R. Tolkien.

And some additional reading, for those who are especially keen:

• "Sir Orfeo: Introduction", from TEAMS Middle English Texts Series.
  

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Header image is the first page of Sir Orfeo in the Auchinleck Manuscript, Advocate's MS 19.2.1, at the National Library of Scotland.