Storytelling in the Bardic Tradition

Escape into creative worlds of fiction.

Statue of Michael Hogan, the Bard of Thomond by Amyr95 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Bardic storytelling had an important role in the history of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Bards were once thought to wield magic, but actually fulfilled a more prosaic function by keeping history and culture alive through storytelling. This was especially important during the cultural decline following the fall of the Roman Empire.

The word, 'bard,' derives from a Gaelic word that means 'to sing praise.' When the term first came into usage, it was not bestowed as a compliment. Bards were considered rootless wanderers. However, the entertaining nature of their offerings, their usefulness to convey oral history, and their acceptance by the nobility soon elevated their status.

As the first writers, bards left behind manuscripts that have become invaluable in giving us an unaltered glimpse into a bygone world. The epic poem, Beowulf, is one example of this type of work, and a collection of ancient Gaelic manuscripts can be found in the National Library of Ireland.

Bards still exist today in many cultures, continuing the time-honored tradition of centuries. They are unique in combining arts, such as music, poetry, acting, sleight-of-hand, sound effects, and creative storytelling. A masterful bard can transfix an audience. A bard is only half the storytelling team, with the listener as the other.

Being transported into a story by a gifted storyteller can seem magical, so it's not difficult to understand why bards were thought to possess supernatural abilities. However, a bard's true power lies in the ability to inspire the readers' imagination. As a novelist, I know that as the lifeblood of storytelling. Right now, I'm studying bardic storytelling in preparation for my upcoming Story Circle Podcast, in which I'll answer the challenge of reading my original fiction in the bardic tradition.

Learn More About Janalyn Voigt's Story Circle Podcast.

About the Author

Escape into creative worlds of fiction with Janalyn Voigt. Her unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Tales of Faeraven, her epic fantasy series that begins with DawnSinger, carries readers into a land only imagined in dreams. Janalyn is represented by Sarah Joy Freese of Wordserve Literary. Her memberships include ACFW and NCWA. When she's not writing, Janalyn loves to discover worlds of adventure in the great outdoors.

Why a King Feared Medieval Bards

The Bard ca 1871 painted by John Martin 1789-1854 

On a rock, whose haughty brow
Frowns o'er old Conway's foaming flood
Robed in the sable garb of woe
With haggard eyes the Poet stood;
(Loose his beard, and hoary hair
Stream'd, like a meteor, to the troubled air)
And with a Master's hand, and Prophet's fire
Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre."
from The Bard ca 1755 by Thomas Gray 1716-1771

In the image, above, a bard strikes a defiant posture as the British army pursues him. The castle in the background is a powerful symbol of the dominance King Edward I exerted over the defeated Welsh. Despite his conquest, Edward did not feel secure. To prevent the bards from rallying the Welsh people with stories of their country's past glory, he ordered their massacre. The poem bears the same title as the painting and is about the same event.

'Bard' was the Celtic term for a professional poet. The word appears with spelling variations in all Celtic languages with writings extant today, ancient Gaulish, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic. The word may also have been used in Brittany and Cornwall.

Between the 12th and 17th centuries, the bards of Ireland, Wales, and Scotland bards were trained in the arts in small schools in which they earned degrees and were segmented into orders. One of their functions was to train the sons of aristocrats in poetic disciplines. Bards watched over genealogies, traditions, and law. This made them highly influential within their culture.

Edward's fear of the bards vividly illustrates the power of story.

Related posts: 

Edward and Eleanor: A Royal Love Story That Transcended Death
A Royal Love Story: History of the Eleanor Crosses

About Janalyn Voigt 

DawnSinger, my debut novel and the first installment in the Tales of Faeraven epic fantasy series, released with Harbourlight Books in 2012. Wayfarer, book two in the series will release in 2013. My other projects include DawnKing, book three in my medieval epic fantasy series and a romantic suspense novel set in a castle.

I love to help readers escape into creative worlds of fiction.

My spare time activities include reading, gardening, and finding adventures with my family in the great outdoors.

Visit the author site for Janalyn Voigt.