tale mac pig tale mac pig old irish legendary tale early irish literature written primarily prose heroic saga form placed cycle story composition present form probably attributed unknown author survives manuscripts written 12th 18th centuries important primary sources held dublin story tells dispute led led mac acquisition dispute ultimately resolved plan king mac hold feast fight breaks assignment champion portion story deals themes provincial rivalry communal heroic contest includes elements parallels older pan celtic traditions apparently story respects tale composition displays sophisticated quality parody genre story apparently popular middle ages later times subject number independent poems central figure pig parallels great literature matter britain particularly 11th century welsh story summary plot story opens mac famous legendary king possessed called defends entire province fame spreads entire island ireland king queen send mac demanding dog time mac king warriors province offer immediate tribute cows finest horses tribute paid following year turn offer mac jewellery cattle north alliance great friendship result events trouble mac greatly goes days food drink sleep wife plan dog parties let fight pleased scheme takes delegation aside private awarded parties agreed separately people come day feast claim formally feast place mac famed legendary halls ireland time seven entrances seven beef pork seven pair arrive door time collect mac innocence immediately apparent invites provinces inside feast means small nonetheless filled tension warriors previously injury sit opposite mac pig slaughtered feast animal cows seven years spread enormous size pig immediately attracts attention decide divided shall awarded hero portion agreed warriors shall challenge past exploits battle length warrior mac manages counterparts took knife hand sat pig saying find men match feats pig spoke right pig eyes answered moment speak custom takes arms makes object came border met abandoned horses escaped spear propose pig sat narrative pattern follows demands challenge warrior rises cry challenger proceeds shame warrior deeds challenger son cut hands battle son king eye cattle raid reminds son taken son head trophy days earlier son cut father foot son spear son pierced neck spear feat arms circumstances led abandonment retreat case challenging warriors compelled retake seats shame victory warrior contingent present hero enters leaps middle hall welcome acknowledge exchange archaic verses better warrior adds brother best contest house said taking head threw breast blood lips shame leaves pig claims belly portion burden men leaving fore dissatisfied share rise drinking bout breaks courtyard outside great oak tree ground roots mac choose sides rout dog hosts sweep westward hides heather leaps passes seizing king head promises ransom wishes asks taken capital women daughters sing evening chorus year later end tale rides westward horses golden final portion plot contains example folklore touch dear ancient irish episode head pole explanation plain valley plain bordering county county county tradition criticism narrative style assessment tale told brilliant narrative power humour reminiscent best dialogue particularly crisp economy choice words remarks visitors previous train thought address suggested brief words intended hide true designs guests suggesting hidden intention spite literary finish surviving written versions tale remains told story characterised total absence reflection word wasted statement expanded events narrative expressed swift movement aiming interest attention stimulate thought reader story makes use element surprise quick developments dramatic moments seeks impress rapid startling climax shock reluctantly yields absence unexpectedly abruptly view warriors ireland suddenly head trophy breast opponent violence blood burst lips identifies story calculated appeal men women stark contrast refined handled story supernatural adventures god beauty story sons later heroic tales finn cycle stories life open hunting romance magic prowess simpler organised society mac feast gulf separating tale broad range genres illustrate impressive range theme early irish story command final assessment thing confidence prose saga mac pig work art high quality right touch romance glamour magic supernatural antiquarian elements holds swift narrative rapid pitch toss dialogue brilliant quality dramatic presentation tradition received compelling form theme antiquity tale mac pig referred brilliantly told early irish picture old heroic life ireland spirit central theme narrative right greatest champion feast receive hero portion great central containing communal supply great body heroes gathered right determined contests contenders assert right hero portion produce credentials heroic exploits shame opponents objections counter claims event unsuccessful distinction heroes present unclear matter taken arbitration similar tale suggests arbitration parodied releases province argues antiquity tale theme probably attested celtic stories heroic communal feast apparently central celtic tradition classical tradition notably 2nd century accounts closely parallel counterparts similarly 1st century greek describes detail honour distinguished men best portions meat disputes lead challenges set prowess time opponent try speeches rob courage heart secondary theme drives contest champion portion rivalry royal provinces resolved contest heroes presentation rivalry coloured author peculiar viewpoint turns provinces ridicule mac king particular author political sympathies favour remain hostile end heroes assembled boasts food provided feast mere conclude inspiration story claim apparent time tale composition story political issues seriously theme instead vehicle good story unusual element tale draws characters essentially cast making mention thirty heroes narrative mentions suggests probably indication antiquity tradition story tradition development story cycle verse elements old obscure certain seemingly elements genre suggest later composition present form elements tale mac pig appears story theme narrative certain unusual elements extant forms suggest quality heroic genre cycle eponymous pig mac origin highly exaggerated size war best finest bull ireland come blows dog passage compressed humour promises dog parties ignorance arrive day contest heroes merely look ridiculous humorous effect head opponent notes manuscript mutual guests referred performing good drinking round somewhat coarse joke revised omitted manuscripts apparently understand notes demand women sing night comical inclusion possibly assessment story glorious honoured laughed traditions tale composition early period viking age ireland substitute humour spirit dignity beauty treasures irish tale parody entirely accurate instead literary genius presented preserved heroic tradition seen lens later age brings theme concentrated irony gay associated traditions story appears known literary circles variant tale apparently mentioned poem yellow book said killed apparent reference slaughter mac included 10th century list primary stories chief stories professional poetic class relate kings mac number cited poem halls ancient ireland clearly tradition oldest surviving copy book tale apparently popular later times subject number independent poems appears directly based surviving text suggesting versions tale served inspiration poem old text book author opportunity display knowledge names irish heroes general characters story second poem follows appears manuscripts book lastly manuscript collection poems real hero dog pig practically pig story title implies original feature unusual choice pig main protagonist story associated broader celtic tradition including wild motif legend wild example causes considerable difficulty men arthur court 11th century welsh story exposition geographical details route rout irish tale parallels route taken welsh hunt notes relation mac pig poets use words pig poetic versions story additional matter tradition mac pig including names mac wife sons grandson according accounts found pig responsible seven inches fat snout needed pig husband great feast refused killed pig earth snout burying alive sleep version tale shows omitted narrow version saga mac delivers pig master feast manuscripts poem praise pig forms appendix plain heath explanation prose verse plain imaginative expected medieval reality simply means plain meadows similarly associated dubious tradition saga somewhat later original tale mac pig mac mac son silent persons parents having deaf best explanation accepted poets write long commentaries irish early irish myths classics isbn
The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig