Marshes of Morva

Marshes of Morva

The Marshes of Morva is a region in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain. It is most notable for being the home of the three Fates-like enchantresses, Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch.

Contents

Description

The Marshes, themselves are similar to marshes encountered today, although Alexander imbibes them with a menacing and foreboding air. They are a vast "dreadful, smelly, ugly-looking fens."[1] Great ropes of fog rise from the ground. Thorny furze and meager clumps of trees dot the edges of the marsh. The sky seems permanently gray and cloudy. There are many pools of stagnant water, grasses, reeds, and bogs. A strong stench of decay fills the air. The Marshes are bursting with life, with marsh birds, ducks, frogs, mice, and insects whose wings cause a "ceaseless thrumming and groaning" in the air. As the companions travel through the marshes, they also see bodies of drowned travelers stuck in the bogs.

The Marshes are located in the extreme southwest corner of Prydain. Alexander found the name "Morva" in the Welsh literary piece, the Mabinogion, although there it is a field. He thought the sound and alliteration were particularly appealing.[2]

In the novels

The Black Cauldron

A significant portion of the second novel of the series, The Black Cauldron, occurs in the Marshes of Morva. They are first mentioned by the talking crow, Kaw, who is hinting to Taran and the companions the location of The Black Crochan, the object of their quest. After many days of travel, the companions find the Marshes, but are then attacked by the Huntsmen of Annuvin. The Companions jump from bog to bog to escape them, while the Huntsmen are sucked into the mire and drown.

However, greater dangers await them as them meet the mysterious sorceresseses Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch, who live in the Marshes. Their cottage is made of peat, with neglected chicken coops and rusted farm implements scattered among the tall grasses. The Marsh both teams with life and reeks of decay; an appropriate setting for the three witches who seem to be a form of the Fates who control life and death.

Eventually, the companions make a trade for the enchanted cauldron in the Sister's possession and the leave the swamp. Upon exiting, their journey is even more difficult, and they are gladdened to depart the Marshes.

In Taran Wanderer

Taran returns to the Marshes in the fourth novel of the series, Taran Wanderer. While seeking information about his lineage, he finds the region still uninviting and "bleak, ugly, untouched by spring".[3] While Taran does not spend much time in the Marshes, it is here that Orddu sends him on his quest to find the Mirror of Llunet. He thinks back to this meeting many times in the remainder of the novel.

In The Foundling

While the sorcerer Dallben makes an off-stage voyage to the Marshes in the fifth novel The High King, the titular short story of The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain is set in the Marshes of Morva. It is explained how Dallben, Moses-like, is found in a basket in the rushes by the Orrdu, Orwen and Orgoch. They raise him as their own child until he tastes a potion of wisdom and must be expelled from their care. (A possible reference to Adam and the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden). Little is made of the ominous nature of the Marshes in this story.

See also

References and sources

  1. ^ Alexander, Lloyd, The Black Cauldron, Holt, 1965. p.92
  2. ^ Tunnell, Michael O., The Prydain Companion, Holt, 1989, p. 181
  3. ^ Alexander, Lloyd, Taran Wanderer, Holt, 1967. p. 11
  • Tunnell, Michael O., The Prydain Companion, Holt, 1989. p. 181. ISBN 0805072713

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch — Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch are fictional characters in Lloyd Alexander s Chronicles of Prydain series. They are three witches who live alone in the Marshes of Morva. Although their identities are apparently fluid and interchangeable, each persona… …   Wikipedia

  • Dallben — is an important character in Lloyd Alexander s children s series The Chronicles of Prydain. Contents 1 Profile 2 Character history 3 Other media 4 External links …   Wikipedia

  • The Chronicles of Prydain — The Book of Three The Black Cauldron The Castle of Llyr Taran Wanderer The High King Author …   Wikipedia

  • Taran Wanderer — infobox Book | name = Taran Wanderer title orig = translator = image caption = Recent US paperback edition author = Lloyd Alexander cover artist = Jody Lee country = United States language = English series = The Chronicles of Prydain genre =… …   Wikipedia

  • Mirror of Llunet — The Mirror of Llunet is an oracular pool of water and the object of a quest in Lloyd Alexander s fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. It is featured in the fourth novel of the series, Taran Wanderer. Those seeking truth travel to the Mirror… …   Wikipedia

  • Doli (fictional character) — For other uses, see Doli (disambiguation). Doli is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander s fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. Doli is one of the fair folk , a nation of faeries, and other magical beings who live in an extensive… …   Wikipedia

  • The Black Cauldron (novel) — infobox Book | name = The Black Cauldron title orig = translator = image caption = Recent US paperback cover author = Lloyd Alexander cover artist = Evaline Ness country = United States language = English series = The Chronicles of Prydain genre …   Wikipedia

  • Gwystyl — is a character in Lloyd Alexander s fantasy Chronicles of Prydain book series. He first appears as one of the Fair Folk in the second novel of the series, The Black Cauldron . He also makes an appearance in the fifth and final novel, The High… …   Wikipedia

  • Gurgi — is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain , the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran s faithful companion, appearing in all five books. Profile Exactly what Gurgi is supposed to be is never clearly… …   Wikipedia

  • The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain — The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain   Author(s) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”