Welsh poetry may refer to poetry in the Welsh language, Anglo-Welsh poetry, or other poetry written in Wales or by Welsh poets. Bust of Homer, one of the earliest European poets, in the British Museum Poetry (ancient Greek: ποιεω (poieo) = I create) is an art form in which human language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or instead of, its notional and semantic content. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... Anglo-Welsh poetry is a subset of Anglo-Welsh literature. ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English(100%), Welsh(20. ...

History

Main Article: Medieval Welsh literature Wales has the most ancient literary tadition in Europe, stretching back to the days of Aneurin and Taliesin, and the haunting 'Neuadd Cynddylan', which is the oldest recorded literay work by a woman from northrn Europe Medieval Welsh literature is the medieval literature written in the Welsh language from before 1100 to the 16th century. ...

In Welsh literature the period before 1100 is known as the period of Y Cynfeirdd ("The earliest poets") or Yr Hengerdd ("The old poetry"). It roughly dates from the birth of the Welsh language until the arrival of the Normans in Wales towards the end of the eleventh century. The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were Scandinavian invaders (especially Danish Vikings) who began to occupy the northern area of France now known as Normandy in the latter half of the 9th century. ...

From ca.1100 until ca.1600 Welsh poetry can be divided roughly into two distinct periods: the period of the Poets of the Princes who worked before the loss of Welsh independence in 1282 and the Poets of the Nobility who worked from 1282 until the period of the English incorporation of Wales in the 16th century. For alternate uses, see Number 1100. ... Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned in a stake for heresy July July 2 - Battle of Nieuwpoort: Dutch forces under Maurice of Nassau defeat Spanish forces under Archduke Albert in a battle on the coastal dunes. ... Events English conquest of Wales begins under Edward I of England Sicilian Vespers - Sicilians rebel against Charles of Anjou and are aided by Peter III of Aragon Births Pope Innocent VI Deaths August 25 - Thomas Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford October 13 - Nichiren December 11 - Llywelyn the Last, Prince of Wales... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

The earliest poem in English by a Welsh poet dates from about 1470. Since then Anglo-Welsh poetry has become an important aspect of Welsh literary culture, as well as being influential on English literature. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Events May 15 - Charles VIII of Sweden who had served three terms as King of Sweden dies. ... Anglo-Welsh poetry is a subset of Anglo-Welsh literature. ... The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, or literature composed in English by writers who are not necessarily from England. ...

Welsh poets often write under bardic names to conceal their identity in Eisteddfod competitions. Unlike in England, Welsh poetry is enjoyed by a mass audience. Competitions of poets are a popular form of entertainment and the leading poets of the nation are both intellectual powerhouses and popular entertainers (imagine an amalgam of Seamus Heaney and Les Dawson) A bardic name is a pseudonym used, in Wales, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement. ... The Eisteddfod (literally sitting) is a Welsh festival of literature, music, and song. ...

Forms

Traditional Welsh poetic meters consist of twenty four different types written in cynghanedd. Traditional Welsh poetic meters consist of twenty four different types of poetic meter. ... Cynghanedd (literally harmony), in Welsh language poetry, is the basic concept of sound-arrangement within one line. ...

An awdl is a form of long poem. An awdl is a long poem written in Welsh in one of twenty-four strict metres, using cynghanedd. ...

See also

• List of Welsh language poets
• Welsh literature
• Oxford Book of Welsh Verse in English
• British literature