“The Fate of Daniel Gwinn” : A Narrative Obituary Poem
This paper discusses one narrative obituary verse, ‘‘The Fate of Daniel Gwinn”, found in the Aspy Bay Region of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It is argued that the poet, Andrew Dunphy, attempted to play a role in preservation of the local community by giving a particular version of the events sur...
| Published in: | Ethnologies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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Association Canadienne d’Ethnologie et de Folklore
1991
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1081722ar https://doi.org/10.7202/1081722ar |
| Summary: | This paper discusses one narrative obituary verse, ‘‘The Fate of Daniel Gwinn”, found in the Aspy Bay Region of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It is argued that the poet, Andrew Dunphy, attempted to play a role in preservation of the local community by giving a particular version of the events surrounding the death, trying thereby to ease troubled minds. The work of this narrative obituary verse, then, goes beyond religious reassurance. While a private event — narrative obituary poems in this community were usually given only to the immediate family; “The Fate of Daniel Gwinn”, for instance, was performed as part of the family’s Sabbath Day readings — but this poem also “got out”, as they say, becoming part of the local song repertoire. Cet article analyse un poème nécrologique, «The Fate of Daniel Gwinn», recueilli dans la région de la baie d’Aspy sur l’île du Cap Breton, Nouvelle Écosse. L’auteur soutient que le poète, Andrew Dunphy, a interprété à sa guise les circonstances du décès dans son récit pour apaiser le deuil des vivants et préserver la solidarité de la communauté. Le poème nécrologique est donc plus qu’une pratique religieuse. Si la narration de ce type de poème était généralement destinée à la famille immédiate, dans ce cas le poème a connu une circulation plus large et il s’est immiscé dans le répertoire des chanteurs de la localité. |
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