The Comic Character of Fin M'Coul, The Hibernian Hercules, in Carleton's ‘A Legend of Knockmany’
1971; Routledge; Volume: 82; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/0015587x.1971.9716730
ISSN1469-8315
Autores Tópico(s)Philippine History and Culture
ResumoACCORDING to Thompson, 'the Irish have always been especially fond of stories of marvellous voyages, to the land of Women'.' (F 112). And they are equally fond of stories of legendary heroes who have miraculously returned to inhabit local geographical areas. These stories dramatize 'the more or less imaginary exploits of more or less historical Irish characters.... Among the less historical.., .are the Fenians, supposedly followers of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a war leader associated with the doubtfully historical king of Tara, Cormac mac Airt'.2 Carleton's 'Legend of Knockmany,' while following the latter type of folktale, focuses our attention upon the artful wiles of a woman performing a helpful service for the cowardly 'hero'. The action occurs on Knockmany Hill in Carleton's native County Tyrone. Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the heroic figure around which the tales of the Ossianic Cycle are grouped, is much like Cuchullain, the hero of the earlier Red Branch or Ulster Cycle tales. Although Fionn's heroic deeds occurred in the third century A.D., they are 'far more concerned with a Fairyland populated by supernatural beings, beautiful or terrible'3 than with Ireland and Irishmen. But Carleton's imagination alters the pseudo-historical episodes of Fionn and his son Oisin beyond any question of historical truth.4 The most evident alteration is in the person and character of the heroic Fionn.
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