Goronwy Owen (poet)
Encyclopedia
Goronwy Owen was one of the 18th century's greatest Welsh
poet
s. He mastered the traditional bardic metres and, although forced by circumstances to be an exile, played an important role in the literary and antiquarian movement in Wales
often described as the Welsh Eighteenth Century Renaissance. A perfectionist who only published reluctantly and whose literary output is consequently relatively small, his work nevertheless had a huge influence on Welsh poetry for several generations and his poetic genius and tragic life gave him a cult status in Welsh literary circles.
, 1723 in the parish of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf in Anglesey
and educated at Friars School, Bangor
and Jesus College, Oxford
, although he did not remain long at the college. Owen was admitted to the college as a servitor
on June 3, 1742 but, whilst his name remained on the college's books until March 1748 (albeit with some omissions) he only resided in the college for approximately one week in the Midsummer Term of 1744, incurring a debt of 15s
1d that was never paid.
In January 1746 he was ordained, and served for a time as curate of St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf
. As a young man, he left Anglesey for the last time, wandering to Denbighshire
, Oswestry
where he was made a master at Oswestry School
in 1746, Donnington
and Uppington
close to Shrewsbury
, Walton then Northolt
. In November 1757, he emigrated, together with his young family, to take a post at the College of William & Mary, Virginia
. Although he was not to stay in that post for long, he remained in Virginia until his death in July 1769. The town of Benllech
in Anglesey named its village hall and Ysgol Goronwy Owen
in honour of Goronwy Owen.
He learnt much of his poetic craft from Lewis Morris, a fellow Anglesey man who, with his brothers and others, was a key figure in the Welsh literary circle referred to by Saunders Lewis
as a "school of Welsh Augustans
".
Individual poems have also been published in numerous anthologies and other sources, including The Oxford Book of Welsh Verse.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s. He mastered the traditional bardic metres and, although forced by circumstances to be an exile, played an important role in the literary and antiquarian movement in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
often described as the Welsh Eighteenth Century Renaissance. A perfectionist who only published reluctantly and whose literary output is consequently relatively small, his work nevertheless had a huge influence on Welsh poetry for several generations and his poetic genius and tragic life gave him a cult status in Welsh literary circles.
Life
He was born on New Year's DayNew Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 1723 in the parish of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf in Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
and educated at Friars School, Bangor
Friars School, Bangor
Ysgol Friars is a comprehensive school in Bangor, Gwynedd, and one of the oldest schools in Wales.-1557 Establishment:The school was founded by Geoffrey Glyn, Doctor of Laws, who had been brought up in Anglesey and had followed a career in law in London....
and Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, although he did not remain long at the college. Owen was admitted to the college as a servitor
Servitor
In certain universities , a servitor was an undergraduate student who received free accommodation , and was exempted from paying fees for lectures...
on June 3, 1742 but, whilst his name remained on the college's books until March 1748 (albeit with some omissions) he only resided in the college for approximately one week in the Midsummer Term of 1744, incurring a debt of 15s
Shilling (United Kingdom)
The British shilling is an historic British coin from the eras of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the later United Kingdom; also adopted as a Scot denomination upon the 1707 Treaty of Union....
1d that was never paid.
In January 1746 he was ordained, and served for a time as curate of St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf
St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf
St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf is a small medieval church in Anglesey, north Wales. The earliest parts of the building, including the nave and the north doorway, date from the 14th century. Other parts, including the chancel and the east window, date from the 15th century...
. As a young man, he left Anglesey for the last time, wandering to Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
where he was made a master at Oswestry School
Oswestry School
Oswestry School is a co-educational independent school, located in the town of Oswestry, Shropshire, England. Founded in 1407 by David Holbache and his wife Guinevere Holbache, it is the second oldest non-denominational school in England....
in 1746, Donnington
Donnington, Shropshire
Donnington is a hamlet in the English county of Shropshire. It forms part of the civil parish of Wroxeter and Uppington.It lies near to Charlton Hill, which rises to above sea level.- External links :...
and Uppington
Uppington
Uppington is a village in the English county of Shropshire. It lies in the civil parish of Wroxeter and Uppington....
close to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Walton then Northolt
Northolt
Northolt is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The town has London Underground and Network Rail stations and is on the A40 road...
. In November 1757, he emigrated, together with his young family, to take a post at the College of William & Mary, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Although he was not to stay in that post for long, he remained in Virginia until his death in July 1769. The town of Benllech
Benllech
__FORCETOC__Benllech is a small town on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. It is in the community of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf, which has a population of 3,408...
in Anglesey named its village hall and Ysgol Goronwy Owen
Ysgol Goronwy Owen
Ysgol Goronwy Owen is a primary school in Benllech, Isle of Anglesey, North Wales named after the local poet Goronwy Owen , born in the parish of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf....
in honour of Goronwy Owen.
Work
He was mostly remarkable as an emigre bard, writing with hiraeth (longing) for his native Anglesey.He learnt much of his poetic craft from Lewis Morris, a fellow Anglesey man who, with his brothers and others, was a key figure in the Welsh literary circle referred to by Saunders Lewis
Saunders Lewis
Saunders Lewis was a Welsh poet, dramatist, historian, literary critic, and political activist. He was a prominent Welsh nationalist and a founder of the Welsh National Party...
as a "school of Welsh Augustans
Augustan literature
Augustan literature is a style of English literature produced during the reigns of Queen Anne, King George I, and George II on the 1740s with the deaths of Pope and Swift...
".
Published works
- Dewisol Ganiadau yr Oes Hon (1759). Anthology. Includes a few of his poems.
- Diddanwch Teuluaidd (1763, 1817). Anthology in three parts. Includes most of his poems together with works by Lewis Morris and Huw Huws.
- Corph y Gainc (1810). Selections.
- John Jones (ed.), Groviana (Llanrwst, 1860). Complete poems and a selection of literary correspondence.
- Parch. Robert Jones (ed.), Poetical Works of Goronwy Owen (1876).
- Isaac Foulkes (ed.), Holl Waith Barddonol Goronwy Owen (1878). Complete poems.
- Isaac Foulkes (ed.), Gwaith Goronwy Owen (1902). Essentially a new edition of the above.
- W. J. GruffyddWilliam John GruffyddProfessor William John Gruffydd was a Welsh academic, poet, writer, and politician.-Family and Education:...
(ed.), Cywyddau Goronwy Owen (1907). Annotated edition of the poems. - J.H. Davies (ed.), The Letters of Goronwy Owen (1924).
Individual poems have also been published in numerous anthologies and other sources, including The Oxford Book of Welsh Verse.
Biographies and studies
- Bedwyr Lewis JonesBedwyr Lewis JonesBedwyr Lewis Jones was a Welsh scholar, literary critic and linguist, born in Wrexham, Denbighshire but raised in Llaneilian on Ynys Môn, north Wales. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating in 1956.-Works:...
, in Gwŷr Môn (1979), ed. Bedwyr Lewis Jones, Cyngor Gwlad Gwynedd. ISBN 0903935074 - Alan LlwydAlan LlwydAlan Llwyd , original name Alan Lloyd Roberts, is a Welsh poet, literary critic and editor, one of the most prolific Welsh-language poets in the last quarter of the 20th century....
, Goronwy Ddiafael, Goronwy Ddu. Cofiant Goronwy Owen 1723-1769 (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas, 1997). - W.D. Williams, Goronwy Owen (Cardiff, 1951).