3rd & 4th ESO: DEIRDRE OF THE SORROWS - AN IRISH LOVE STORY

One of the best-known love Irish legends is the story of Deirdre. 

    Before Deirdre, daughter of the bard Phelim, was born a druid foretold that the girl would grow to be so beautiful that could provoke wars over her and many would die because of her.

    Conor MacNess, king of Ulster, said: “I will never sacrifice this innocent child. Deirdre will live alone in the forest, and when she is older I will marry her and make her my wife”. He put her under the care of Lavercham, his old nurse, and visited her from time to time, to see the first part of the prophecy, at least, fulfilled. Deirdre was indeed stunningly beautiful.


    When she was almost old enough to get married, she had visions of a young man with white skin, black hair and blood red lips. Deirdre told her nurse “that man will be the man I marry”. Levorcham said, “His name is Naoise. He and his two brothers are knights of the King, and they will be your protectors when you marry the King.”  Deirdre replied, “I will not marry the King - Naoise is the man I love!” She continued to implore her friend, “If you love me you will bring Naoise, my true love, here to take me away.  Levorcham felt confused between the love of the girl and her loyalty to the King. Love won and she arranged a secret meeting”

    But King Conor did not give up his desire for Deirdre, and by treachery he made Naoise back to Ireland. War and bloodshed came, and Naoise and his two brothers were murdered, leaving Deirdre at the mercy of Conor. For a year and a day she lived with him, but in that time she never spoke or smiled.

    When Deirdre saw his lover dead. Her sorrow was so huge that died in the arms of her lover.

    Her body was placed in a grave near where the three brothers were buried. From both graves grew a yew tree whose branches and limbs intertwined for eternity. The King cut the trees a lot of times, but every time he did, the trees grew again intertwined.
   
 BY THE WAY...

SEND YOUR ANSWERS CLIKING HERE with your name and group

1) Ulster was one of the ancient regions of Ireland, but today Ulster's name is Northern Ireland belongs to the United Kingdom together with England, Wales and Scotland. Click at the bottom to see a map of the United Kingdom and look for the capital cities of Northern Ireland (the old region of Ulster) and Scotland (where Deirdre and Naoise were living). (map of the U.K.)

2) Why didn't Deirdre marry Conor, the King of Ulster?

3) Look for a synonym in English for these words:

* DRUID (first paragraph)
* STUNNINGLY (second paragraph)
* MURDER (fourth paragraph)
* INTERTWINED (sixth paragraph) 

(You can use this synonyms dictionary: http://www.wordreference.com/thesaurus)

4) The story of Deirdre is a love story. Do you know other love stories? Write the title of...
* ...two books or two films about love (please, in English)
* ...two love songs  and the name of the bands or singers (please, in English)

5) You can listen to this beautiful love song: Love is all around, by the band Wet, Wet, Wet, released in 1994 as a Soundtrack for the film Four Weddings and a Funeral; it was an international hit and spent 15 weeks at number one in the UK Singles Chart.