bevanthomas

bevanthomas, 2 months ago to random

Many of the prophecies of the British mystic Myrddin Wyllt (the inspiration for Merlin) are monologs told to his only friend - a wild piglet he fed and befriended while living in the wilderness. Geoffrey of Monmouth changed the piglet to a wolf when he wrote Myrddin's biography.
#FairyTaleTuesday

bevanthomas, 2 months ago (edited 2 months ago) to random

In many stories, Domdaniel is a cavern at the bottom of the ocean where sorcerers and spirits meet. In T. H. White's "The Sword in the Stone," Merlin says his duel with Madam Mim will test if a magic degree from Domdaniel (Mim's alma mater) is superior to tutoring from Merlin's mentor Blaise.
#FairyTaleTuesday

bevanthomas, 2 months ago to random

In Welsh legends, King Arthur had three shapeshifting wizard-warriors in his service: his chief counselor Menw, Eiddilig the Dwarf, and Tristan of Lyonesse. Only Tristan appears in the later Arthurian Romances, though as simply a knight with no magical powers.
🎨 Alan Lee
#FairyTaleTuesday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

The 13 Treasures of Britain from Welsh folklore include several food-related ones, such as the Hamper of Gwyddno Long-Shank (if food for 1 person is placed in it, it becomes food for 100 people) and the Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant (which will not cook food for a coward).
#FolkloreSunday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to literature

"He hath eaten me out of house and home."

• William Shakespeare, "Henry IV Part Two" (Act 2, Scene 1)

#ShakespeareSunday #Shakespeare #BookChatWeekly #Literature #poetry #theatre

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

"Who art thou?" said the Giant. A strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child.

The child smiled at the Giant. "You let me play once in your garden; today you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise."

• Oscar Wilde, "The Selfish Giant"
  🎨 Ritva Voutila
  #BookWormSat

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

"[My anger] grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole,
When the night had veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree."

• William Blake, "A Poison Tree"
  #BookWormSat

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

"Footprints?"

"Footprints."

"A man’s or a woman's?"

Dr. Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant, and his voice sank almost to a whisper as he answered.

"Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!"

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Hound of the Baskervilles"
  #BookologyThursday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

The Arthurian Romance "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is about how much someone will sacrifice for honour. Sir Gawain swore an oath to the Green Knight so that King Arthur wouldn't be called a coward, and then was willing to die rather than break his oath.
#LegendaryWednesday #WyrdWednesday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

The city of Troy was considered the epitome of culture and sophistication, so many European cultures (Italians, Welsh, etc.) claimed their ancestors had been Trojans. Medieval Christian Scandinavians even claimed their pagan gods had actually been Trojan sorcerers.
🎨 Giovanni Tiepolo
#WyrdWednesday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

Though Little Red Riding Hood illustrations usually depict the Big Bad Wolf as a regular wolf, he has various human-like features, including hands able to turn a doorknob, the ability to walk bipedally, and startling disguise skills, giving him some werewolf overtones.
🎨 Trina Schart Hyman
#FairyTaleTuesday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

"Little girls, this seems to say
Never stop upon your way.
Never trust a stranger friend.
No one knows how it will end.
As you're pretty, so be wise;
Wolves may lurk in every guise.
Now as then, 'tis simple truth:
Sweetest tongue has sharpest tooth."

• Angela Carter, "The Company of Wolves"
  #FairyTaleTuesday

bevanthomas, 3 months ago to random

According to Norse mythology, the Mead of Inspiration was created by two wicked dwarves as they mixed the blood of the dead god Kvasir with honey. Anyone who drank from this mead would possess great wisdom and become a great poet.
🎨 Franz Stassen
#MythologyMonday