In Medieval Europe, both the Christian Church and pagan ideas dominated religious beliefs throughout European nations. Both of these belief systems are represented in The Mabinogion, a collection of eleven Welsh tales. “Pwyll Lord of Dyved” represents the Medieval Christian Church’s beliefs on salvation, which was an integral part of that era as it caused financial corruption among church leaders, also, “Llud and Llevyls” provides much insight on paganism and is reflected in the Middle Ages in many major tragedies such as the Black Plague.
The first tale in The Mabinogion is entitled, “Pwyll Lord of Dyved,” in which Pwyl, the ruler of Dyved encounters a man named Arwan, who immediately claims that Pwyll has has greatly wronged him. Pwyll was bewildered as to how he could have offended Arwan, as they had never met. Arwan tells him that he already knows Pwyll, however, Pwyll does not know him. Pwyll inquires Arwan seeking how he may amend his wrongs. In response, Arwan gives him a challenge and says that in order to earn his friendship, he must kill Arwan’s enemy. He further describes the challenge to …show more content…
The concept of christians imitating and becoming like God is emphasized throughout biblical scripture, so, in a way God instructs christians to change and disguise themselves to be more like Him, similar to the concept found in the tale. Probably the most important symbolism in this take is the fact that Arwan makes Pwyll earn his friendship and relationship with Arwan. In the Medieval Church, members were constantly performing good works and doing religious rituals in hopes that someday they would be rewarded with admission to heaven. Thus, the fact that Pwyll must complete a challenge before developing a relationship with Arwan represents the good works that were required of Medieval
The first tale in The Mabinogion is entitled, “Pwyll Lord of Dyved,” in which Pwyl, the ruler of Dyved encounters a man named Arwan, who immediately claims that Pwyll has has greatly wronged him. Pwyll was bewildered as to how he could have offended Arwan, as they had never met. Arwan tells him that he already knows Pwyll, however, Pwyll does not know him. Pwyll inquires Arwan seeking how he may amend his wrongs. In response, Arwan gives him a challenge and says that in order to earn his friendship, he must kill Arwan’s enemy. He further describes the challenge to …show more content…
The concept of christians imitating and becoming like God is emphasized throughout biblical scripture, so, in a way God instructs christians to change and disguise themselves to be more like Him, similar to the concept found in the tale. Probably the most important symbolism in this take is the fact that Arwan makes Pwyll earn his friendship and relationship with Arwan. In the Medieval Church, members were constantly performing good works and doing religious rituals in hopes that someday they would be rewarded with admission to heaven. Thus, the fact that Pwyll must complete a challenge before developing a relationship with Arwan represents the good works that were required of Medieval