Avalon: Isle of Mystery Essays -- Island Avalon Essays

Avalon Isle of MysteryThe island of Avalon has been shrouded in mystery throughout the muniment of the Arthurian legend. Named Ynyswytryn, meaning the glassy isle, it was famous as the Gaelic paradise The Happy Island of the Blest (Webb 11). In the earliest religion it was believed that the souls of the baseless were borne westward to an Island in the Western Sea, to the abode of Glast and Avallac.Thus in later times was Arthur to be borne to the Island Valley of Avillion (Webb 11). The island supposedly held a mystic cauldron of variation into which dead are dipped to spring out into a modernistic life (Webb 12). In the Life of Gildas written by Caradoc of Llancarvan, Arthur comes to Glastonbury, and the writer tells us that the City of Glass derives its name from the British Yniswitrin, yet gives no cue that it was identical with Avalon (Robinson 7). The Spoils of Annwn also mentions the island, saying that after the battle of Camlan, Taliesin brings the wounded Arthur to I nsula Pomorum, which is an elbow grease to translate the Welsh Ynys Avallach, and leaves Arthur thither under the care of Morgen (Loomis, Roger Wales 154). Morgen was the chief of nightclub maidens on the island and was skilled in the arts of healing the 4th line, second stanza says that By the breath of nine maidens it the cauldron was kindled (Loomis, Roger Wales 154). A 12th speed of light Welsh tradition derived the name of the island of Avalon from Avallach, the father of Morgain from this, the Arthur legend acquired the name as well as the ministrations of Morgain le Fe (Loomis, Roger Wales 72). William of Malmesbury, writing roughly 1125, also attributes the name to a certain Avalloc, who is said to have lived there with his daughters because of the s... ...6.Loomis, Richard M. Arthur in Geoffrey of Monmouth. The womanise of Arthur. Ed. James J.Wilhelm. New York Garland, 1994.Loomis, Roger Sherman. Celtic Myth and Arthurian Romance. New York Columbia UP, 1926.Wale s and the Arthurian Legend. Cardiff U of Wales P, 1956.Parry, Joseph D. Following Malory out of Arthurs World. juvenile Philology. 95.2 (1997) 147.Reid, Margaret J. C. The Arthurian Legend Comparison of Treatment in Modern andMidiaeval Literature. capital of the United Kingdom Oliver and Boyd, 1938.Robinson, J. Armitage. Two Glastonbury Legends King Arthur & St. Joseph of Arimathea. Cambridge Cambridge UP, 1926.Webb, Albert E. Glastonbury Ynyswytryn Isle of Avalon. Glastonbury Avalon,1929.Wilhelm, James J. Arthur in the Latin Chronicles. The Romance of Arthur. Ed. James J. Wilhelm. New York Garland, 1994.