Foundation myths, whether of nations,
dynasties or cities, have been at the heart of western culture since classical
times. Europe’s archetypal national foundation myth was the subject of Virgil’s
Aeneid. Present in Virgil’s poem are three key elements which appear
repeatedly in western foundation myths: the wanderer/outsider making good; the
foundation prompted by divine prophecy or visions, and the planting, by the ‘chosen
people’ of their new (and often superior) culture in a foreign land. Most medieval
states, cities and dynasties were comparative newcomers, and many sought to
obscure their uncomfortably recent origins in a cloud of myth.
Troy provided the ideal means to do
this. In medieval England, the Trojan myth received perhaps its most elaborate
and fantastical development. The original source for the English tradition was probably
the 9th century Historia Brittonum, (Pseudo-Nennius). This
original story was greatly expanded by Geoffrey of Monmouth who begins his own work
with an account of Brutus, or Brute, Aeneas’s grandson, who is expelled from
Italy with his followers, and wanders the Mediterranean. In a vision, the
goddess Diana tells Brutus that his destiny is to lead the Trojans to an island
in the west, where he shall found a race of kings. Brutus eventually realises
the prophecy, founding Britain, and supplanting its primitive native giants.
Thus, Brutus’s tale exhibits the ‘Virgilian’ topoi of the outsider,
divine intervention and colonisation.
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| Brutus of Troy, represented here as founder of London |
(Second attempt to post)
ReplyDeleteElements of Wace's Brut:
-foundation prompted by divine prophecy by a goddess
-Brutus and his men are Trojans (legendary pple)
-Wanders from outside making good: both Brutus and Corineus had to overcome obstacles prior to arriving at the foreign land (ie: defeat Goffars & 12 kings of France)
-the natives of the new foreign land are giants (inferior species); despite their sizes, strength and number, the giants were defeated by the Trojans (who are superior)
There are certain elements of the story of Brutus that mark it as the perfect foundation myth:
ReplyDeleteFirstly, a reader can see an explanation of the natural world, basically, how Trojans found and established Britain via poetic storytelling
Secondly, the story is rich in non-human and supernatural beings(e.g., sirens, the giants, the goddess Diane)
Thirdly, after many dangers (e.g., sirens that could harm their ships), fights with the king Goffars, twelve French kings and giants, Brutus and his people could eventually build their houses and name their new home – Britain, after evil, there is always going to be good
Fourthly, the story evokes the presence of mystery and unknown while breaking the traditional laws of the natural world (e.g, sirens, giants, the goddess)
Fifthly, in the story, the goddess Diane tells Brutus what to do and where to go
Maria S. (22504079).
Well who wouldn't love a story about giants and goddesses? In this case, this story is the perfect foundation myth for Britain because it has a manly man figure at the centre of it, can't you see his chest hair rippling in the wind? This guy wanders around for a while before a goddess (Diane, which is a bit of a loss really as I'm pretty sure she is the chaste huntress, therefore no hanky panky which would further have enlivened the story) says in a thunderous voice, go to this place, kill all the giants who live there in their giant communes and be merry. As a giant advocate, this sounds incredibly cruel, especially as the giants had only just developed life insurance (I learned this from Nennius, so it must be true!). This would have been useful, except I'm sure the invaders (and Brutus) would have gone for the insurance agents first, resenting their advanced way of thinking. Therefore nobody would have been around to pay the surviving giants when their families were killed. Nennius is so knowledgeable!
ReplyDeleteThe trojans are also pretty cool people, known to history etc etc.
Everyone else has said it better than me, kudos to posters above!
Through Brutus it allows then to associate themselves with great war like deads, allowing them to emphasise their masculinity. Divine intervention is present, legitimising their claim to the land that they are on. The intelligene of the britains is shown through their defeat of the giants a large but brutish species.
ReplyDeleteAs such it contains all the elements of a good foundation myth: A prophecy, divine intervention and fantastical elements as well as an underdog that manages to be victorious as the britains have been for a time, adding reletabel aspects to the story.