DowrgiAs an afterthought, in the mediaeval bardic world, nothing was ever just what it seemed. Puns, hints, symbolic choices and allusions were the mark of a skilled poet, so taking a story entirely at face value would miss half the fun. With that in mind, the Fourth Branch feels deliberately layered – the choice of oak, broom and meadowsweet for Blodeuwedd’s magical creation can hardly be accidental, and the different forms of her name — some tied to mead, others simply meaning ‘flowers’ — open the door to themes of sovereignty, ritual and transformation that run throughout Welsh and Irish mediaeval literature. You may also want to explore the Irish mythology of Bláthnat (Bláthíne), whose name means ‘little flower’ and whose sorrowful tale does indeed have some striking similarities or parallels with the themes found in the Fourth Branch.
Bennathow,
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