“The Fate of Daniel Gwinn” : A Narrative Obituary Poem

• Published in: Ethnologies
• Main Author: Caplan, Ronald
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Association Canadienne d’Ethnologie et de Folklore 1991
• Subjects: Breton Island
• Online Access: http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1081722ar; https://doi.org/10.7202/1081722ar

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...