Brian Merriman, the author of The Midnight Court, is immortalised in stone in County Clare in Ireland The Tyneside Book Club started the new year with something different - a poem.
The Midnight Court was originally written in native Irish in the late 18th Century by teacher Brian Merriman, though the club wisely chose to tackle a more modern English translation.
The majority of members welcomed the chance to try something a little different, and although The Midnight Court runs to over a thousand lines, most found it accessible and readable.
There was some discussion about how much a general reader could get from the poem without knowing much about its historical context. Some members had looked at its wider history and felt this did allow them a greater appreciation of its themes and intentions. Some though did not feel they should have to carry out extra research for a club choice.
There was appreciation for its bawdy directness, and its authors apparently enlightened views on gender. It was not too much of a stretch to suggest that it came out more on the side of women than men in the "court" hearing it followed. There was some amusement and entertainment to be had in the banter between witnesses, though there were clearly some serious points being made in what was largely a comic poem.
For some though, there was not too much pleasure to be had, and it was a struggle to really get a grip on what The Midnight Court was really trying to say, given our distance from its origins. Some members felt it did not enhance their appreciation or enthusiasm for poetry.
One member had listened to a reading online of the poem and found that gave them a much greater understanding and appreciation of The Midnight Court. It felt like a work that needed to be performed, especially as it had come out of an oral tradition at a time when literacy levels were limited. Performance also brought out more of the humour. Members agreed that it did seem like a poem better heard than read, even if there was still some pleasure to be had from following it on the page.
The Midnight Court was originally written in native Irish in the late 18th Century by teacher Brian Merriman, though the club wisely chose to tackle a more modern English translation.
The majority of members welcomed the chance to try something a little different, and although The Midnight Court runs to over a thousand lines, most found it accessible and readable.
There was some discussion about how much a general reader could get from the poem without knowing much about its historical context. Some members had looked at its wider history and felt this did allow them a greater appreciation of its themes and intentions. Some though did not feel they should have to carry out extra research for a club choice.
There was appreciation for its bawdy directness, and its authors apparently enlightened views on gender. It was not too much of a stretch to suggest that it came out more on the side of women than men in the "court" hearing it followed. There was some amusement and entertainment to be had in the banter between witnesses, though there were clearly some serious points being made in what was largely a comic poem.
For some though, there was not too much pleasure to be had, and it was a struggle to really get a grip on what The Midnight Court was really trying to say, given our distance from its origins. Some members felt it did not enhance their appreciation or enthusiasm for poetry.
One member had listened to a reading online of the poem and found that gave them a much greater understanding and appreciation of The Midnight Court. It felt like a work that needed to be performed, especially as it had come out of an oral tradition at a time when literacy levels were limited. Performance also brought out more of the humour. Members agreed that it did seem like a poem better heard than read, even if there was still some pleasure to be had from following it on the page.
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