Yn y bennod hon trafodwn ‘Ganu Heledd’, y farddoniaeth ganoloesol sy’n gysylltiedig â stori tywysoges o hen deyrnas Powys a dystiodd i farwolaeth ei theulu a chwalfa’i chymdeithas. Ond yn hytrach nag adrodd y stori, mae’r cerddi telynegol hyn yn canolbwyntio ar ymateb emosiynol Heledd. Dyma lenyddiaeth sy’n trafod colled, galar a hiraeth mewn modd ingol o gofiadwy.

Dyma hefyd lais benywaidd prin sy’n wrthbwynt i natur wrywaidd lethol y traddodiad barddol canoloesol. Nodwn wrth fynd heibio fod y farddoniaeth bwerus hon wedi dylanwadu’n drwm ar lenyddiaeth a cherddoriaeth Gymraeg yr 20fed ganrif hefyd. Ac mae trafodaeth am arwyddocâd treiglad sy’n pwysleisio – ormod, ym marn Richard Wyn Jones, efallai! – fod y math yma o fanylyn gramadegol yn gallu bod yn allweddol bwysig i ystyr a naws testun llenyddol.

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The Voice of Heledd

In this episode we discuss ‘Canu Heledd’, the medieval poetry which tells the story of a princess from the old kingdom of Powys who witnessed the death of her family and the destruction of her society. Rather than telling the story, these lyrical poems concentrate on Heledd’s emotional reaction. This is literature which treats loss, grief and longing in a painful and memorable way.

Here too is a rare female voice which is a counterpoint to the medieval bardic tradition’s overwhelmingly male character. We also note in passing that this powerful poetry has had a significant influence on the Welsh literature and music of the 20th century. And there is a discussion about the significance of a mutation which emphasizes – perhaps too much for Richard Wyn Jones! – that this kind of tiny grammatical detail can be key to the meaning and mood of a literary text.

Cyflwynwyd gan: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a'r Athro Richard Wyn Jones

Cynhyrchwyd gan: Richard Martin

Cerddoriaeth: Might Have Done gan The Molenes

Dilynwch ni ar Trydar: http://www.twitter.com/YrHenIaith

Tanysgrifwch yn eich hoff ap podlediadau neu ar YouTube i derbyn y pennod nesaf ar cyhoeddiad.

Darllen Pellach/Further Reading:

Jenny Rowland, Early Welsh Saga Poetry: A Study and Edition of the Englynion (Caergrawnt: D. S. Brewer, 1990).