The Legend of St. Brendan: A Comparative Study of the Latin and Anglo-Norman Versions

"The Legend of Brendan" describes how the Irish abbot journeys to Paradise and the marvellous encounters he experiences. The popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, in particular, an Anglo-Norman reworking which excises much devotional material, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. By their varying focus on ecclesiastical matters and fantastic imagery, the two versions demonstrate a progressive movement away from hagiography towards adventure. Studies of the two versions rarely discuss the elements of the fantastic. Following a summary of authorship, audiences and sources, this comparative study follows a structural approach to the texts and considers what the fantastic imagery achieves, and addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels.