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 |
As a foundation myth, Wace’s Brut is perfect in all respects. It follows the form of all the great classical foundation myths, especially that of Rome with which it is closely linked through the family relationship between Aeneas and Brutus. The foundation myth begins with expulsion from the homeland of the hero and a divine prophecy, which tells of the land where the protagonist will settle. The route to this chosen land is not straightforward or easy and there are a number of obstacles to overcome, both fantastical, the sirens, and credible, the French, including a long stay in another country where the protagonist is tempted to settle, France, though this does not play a major role in this myth. After overcoming this and all the other trials that have befallen him along his travels the ‘hero’ and his companions reach the chosen land and fulfil the prophecy. The links with Classical foundation myths and the direct link through blood with the Trojan Aeneas, the founder of Rome, the story of Brutus is the perfect foundation myth for Britain as it links the British peoples with the classical powers of Homer’s ‘Golden Age’, the Romans, Trojans and Greeks.
ReplyDeleteI think that the notion of the foundation myth arising from a sea-voyage made by the Brutus figure is quite suited to Britain as it is a nation surrounded by the sea, with close ties to maritime affairs. New 'waves' (so to speak) of people have always come from across the seas to settle there, thus in a way every culture to take root there has arisen from the water. I feel that this perhaps most relevant to Britain.
ReplyDeleteMost aspects of this myth are suitable for Britain. Perhaps some elements that stand out as 'perfect' are the idea of the 'divine provocation' and the missplaced people conquering a new land and over taking the primative inhabitants (the giants). All foundation myths have divine interventions, usually in the form of a prophecy, as is in Wace's poem. This tale continues to follow the 'formula' for the foundation myth as the divine, in this case the goddess Diana, speaks of a royal line, which will begin with Brutus. This is completely suitable for Britain as their culture has always had a focus on the hereditry line of kings, thus giving it a beginning, founded and approved, in a way, by the divine seems largely appropriate. As for the conquering of a new land, Britain, and the British peoples' history is steeped in waves on new societies and races taking over. In a way, this myth can be used for the justification of the various conquerings of Britain, as people can say that the country its self began in this way, therefore there is nothing wrong with simply continuing the cycle as such.
ReplyDeleteWace's "Brut" is perfect as a foundation myth for Britain, especially due to its appropriation of elements from classical writings and epic poetry. The "Brut" begins with the goddess Diana offering divine sanction to the poem's namesake, Brutus; she impels him to conquer a western island (Britain) and to fashion it into "a new Troy". From the outset, the poem aligns with the topos of the displaced outsider given divine authority to conquer a new land seen in earlier classical works and thus presents itself as a sort of re-invigorated mythology of Britain's inception. The heroes - Trojan leaders characterised as strong and militarily competent - undertake a journey of vast proportions. They scale the breadth of continents, from "ports in Africa" to "the pillars made by Hercules", and along the way encounter a host of mythical creatures and dangerous foreign armies. Brutus' ability to overcome such fantastic and seemingly-insurmountable obstacles legitimates his sacred appointment to leadership, and the eventual subjugation of the giants of the British isles aligns perfectly with the efforts of colonisation apparent in Virgil's cardinal epic.
ReplyDeleteThe poem further establishes watertight classical origins not only by adopting the warriors of Troy as the forefathers of the British people, but by applying a classical etymology to already-existing place names in Britain (such as "a city on the Thames" being christened "New Troy" and "Brutus" translating to "Britain"). Ultimately, Wace's "Brut" obscures any notion of Britain's youth by directly linking with the foundational myths and powers of great Empires past.
In Wace's "Brut", the author creates a direct link between the Britons and classical civilisations such as Greece and Rome by not only inferring that Britain was initially founded by the Trojans, but also drawing upon classical literature and tales of epic journeys. This link is compelling not because of its historical accuracy, but rather because it gives Britain a proud heritage of high civilisation. Furthermore, the fact that Brutus’ journey was sanctioned by divine authority provides a firm basis for the Britains and their society even when invading a new land.
ReplyDeleteWace's "Brut" provides the perfect foundation myth for Britian due to its loyalty to classical foundation myths. It includes divine intervention in the form of Diana who sends Brutus on his way, and an epic journey through which a hero and his people overcome great troubles and are eventually rewarded with a land of their own; a great home to call their own. This seems to set a precendence for the future of the British Empire and their spread across the globe; which would mimick the fight that Brutus faced against the Giants. It also indicates a proud heritage with which the British can lay claim to.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Brutus as depicted in Wace’s Brut can be deemed a perfect foundation myth for Britain in a number of ways. However, most importantly the narrative relayed in Brut depicts mystical elements which have since been engrained in the history of Britain, enabling British mythic history to be on par with other fantastic histories like the Greek and Roman. The story of Brutus follows the typical form of the Greek and the Roman histories, incorporating elements of heroic activity, titanic clashes and the eventual success of the nation at hand.
ReplyDeleteBrut acts as the perfect foundation myth as it presents Britain as fantastically victorious, overcoming clashes and mystic creatures such as mermaids (‘Sirens’) and giants, thus presenting the nation as incredibly powerful. Furthermore, the inclusion of the goddess Diana enables a beginning to the British myth that incorporates these mystic elements and presents the idea that Britain arose out of divine provocation.
The story of Brutus works as the perfect foundation myth for Britain as it links the history of Britons with great events in antiquity such as the sack of Troy. Where previously, the history of the Britons was unknown, the story of Brutus gives a defining moment of origin to the race of the Britons. I agree with the previous comments about the use of divine guidance in narrative. However I think the element that made the biggest impression on me in my reading was the demonstration of the military strength of the Trojans. Following the vision given to Brutus, three quarters of the narrative focuses on the Trojan’s conquest of the people of Mauritania, their victory over the French king and lastly the defeat of the giant Gogmagog. The military prowess demonstrated by the Trojans on each occasion clearly marks them as a great race and by implication the Britons who are their descendants.
ReplyDeleteI am in agreement with my classmates that Wace’s work does provide the perfect foundation myth for Britain. Yet rather than repeat the case given by previous correspondents I will argue what I think is a unique theory. While the story is steeped in the mythology of divine beginnings, heroic adventures, a land liberated from giants and the overcoming of adversities I suggest that at its core there may be another story more historical in nature. Wace’s British originate from Troy in modern day Turkey which itself was home to a Celtic tribe that had migrated/invaded around 279 BC and from Spain where celtic civilisation was prominent on the west coast. Therefore I argue that this story has its basis in celtic tradition and portrays the real migrations of the celtic people to Britain. Nice to see the historic Anglo-French rivalry embedded in pre-history too.
ReplyDeleteThey story of Brutus contains all the elements be considered a perfect foundation myth for Britain. Brutus is a wanderer who travels far and wide conquering obstacles in his way and defeating all the evil he was up against. The foundation was prompted by a divine prophecy in the form of the goddess Diane who spoke to him in a dream and told him that Albion will be his, which prompted him to seek it out. Finally, when Brutus, Corineus, and the Trojans arrived in Albion they fought the giants who were living there and won, and proceeded to plant their new and superior culture in the land and it was renamed Britain, after Brutus. The Trojans appeared to be guided by a divine force, which I think would lead to people to perceive their conquering of Britain as more sacred.
ReplyDeleteAs many of my classmates before me have stated, Wace's "Brut" is a perfect foundation myth for Britain. It incorporates many of the elements of a mythical story with a respected heritage for Brutus, I.e., Brutus being a descendant of Aeneas from Virgil's "Aeneid", which further strengthens the link and replication that this story has to the Greek and Roman mythical stories. This myth also utilizes the conventions of heroic battles highlighting the strength and character of the invading Trojans further demonstrating their 'right', for lack of a better word, to rule the land. I use the word 'right' to suggest the idea that if it was the 'right' of the natives, whether they be the Poitevins, the Frenchemen or the giants, to maintain their hold on their land then surely they would have. Thus, this links back to the idea of divinity and fate that is expressed through the dream of Brutus and the presence of the goddess Diane, another link to the stories Greek and Roman heritage. Another element of the story that I found a great element of a myth is the mention of town or city names and how they have evolved over time, this provides a powerful link to the beginnings of Britain, or should I now say the land that is termed England?
ReplyDeleteThe foundation myth presented in Wace’s “Brut” is an ideal one for Britain. The classical confines of “Brut” offer an explanation for Britain’s foundation in the form of the goddess Diana’s visitation of Brutus in a dream, telling him that she has found him “a very delightful place to rest”, a “new Troy” where he can be the first of a line of kings. The motif of a god or goddess giving divine direction is not uncommon in classical mythology, and is ever present in epic poetry such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. This sanction is especially important in a foundation myth, as it serves as a reminder that the gods are looking out for the welfare of those whom they guide, a sentiment that may not be quite as relevant to modern readers but would have been a significant cultural factor in earlier centuries. Brutus himself is an important figure in the foundation myth; a classical hero of military strength, due respect to his gods and leadership in the face of great trial. The final component of Wace’s “Brut” brings its readers gently from classical mythology back into the everyday. The discussion of the development of the names of important locations in England makes the foundation myth relevant to those who would later interpret it, those contemporary to the text’s authorship and those to modern readers.
ReplyDeleteThe elements of foundation myths evident in Wace's 'Brut' are the "the wanderer/outsider making good", which occurs when Brutus discovers the land Corineus and the Trojans were living on and together they defeat the giants, as well as King Goffars, who challenged Corineus. It exemplifies "the foundation prompted by divine prophecy or visions", when Brutus is given a prophecy by the goddess Diane, giving their journey purpose and guaranteeing success in the face of peril (particularly in battles and when the Trojans resisted the call of the sirens) and "the planting, by the ‘chosen people’ of their new (and often superior) culture in a foreign land", which occurred when Brutus won the land of Albion and renamed it Britain. In these stories, Brutus, Corineus and the Trojans are noble warriors who overcome every obstacle, displaying an empirical tendency reflected in the generations of Britons to come.
ReplyDeleteWace's "Brut" undoubtedly conforms closely with the three key elements of western foundation myths. In this sense, the piece provides a very useful, although by definition, fictional, foundational myth for Britain. Intervention of the divine in the story is made clear when the goddess Diana tells Brutus "Faraway in the sea, past France, Way to the west, you shall encounter An island good and fit for life... And you will make it a new Troy". The island was a "place that had been destined for them... To hold as heritage forever". Such intervention serves to give the entire undertaking legitimacy, presenting the men not just as barbaric conquerors but as heroes fulfilling a divine destiny. Further, the idea of a wanderer making good is present in Brutus rising from a man banished from Italy to a victorious leader, defeater of giants, and namesake of new valuable isles. Finally, the planting of the Trojan culture in a foreign land is seen when "the land was cleansed of all The giants and their monstrous kin, The Trojans felt secure and safe And built their homes and plowed their fields... and had the land called Britain then". Such elements, combined, render "Brut" a perfect foundation myth for Britain.
ReplyDeleteOne significance of European foundation myths is the common connection with the Trojans. This tradition might have been the invention of the city of Rome, later imitated by the Frankish, the Normans and then the British. Monasticism inherited both Christian and Roman tradition. For medieval writers there was no clear boundary between history and mythology, and the stories from the Old Testament were not to be treated differently with the Greek Mythologies. Wace's Brut was a kind of medieval history writing which fills the gap between the British Christian legends of Arthur and the Roman-Greco historiography. On the other hand, it also showed consciousness of putting the originality of the British to the same level of that of the Romans and Franks.
ReplyDeleteWace's 'Brut' contains a number of elements found in a perfect foundation myth. Firstly we see divine intervention from Diana who sends Brutus on his mission to the land that will be fit for the people to settle and live off. The journey Brutus is sent on itself is an element of a foundation myth, a man being sent on a quest who will encounter a number of challenges, such as the Giants Brutus is forced to fight. Brutus is made to be a hero, another factor vital to any great story, especially a great mythical foundation story and as such the term Britain is said to be derived from the name 'Brutus'. The story contains all the elements that make a good tale, and a great foundation story.
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