The Pearl Recitals

Recently I had one of the most important artistic experiences of my life. It was subtle but powerful, and took the form of the rediscovery of some works that I had already known. These were the poems of the fourteenth century writer who is known only as the Pearl/Gawain poet. Like many students, I had read them, mainly in translation, thought them surprisingly good, and then passed on. The revelation occurred recently when a friend asked me what I thought was the greatest poem in the English language, and without thinking, straight from my subconscious, I replied "Probably the 'Pearl'". After I had said it, I found myself wondering why I had said it, and thought I had better take another look. I then discovered just how right my subconscious had been, in picking out that work from all the others.

I had previously made many false assumptions which had hidden this truth from me, but now, gradually, it became clear.

Firstly, I had assumed as many do, that the archaic language and impossible spelling of the text made a 'translation' an essential tool for the modern reader. For the modern reader that may be the case, but for the modern listener that is most certainly not true, as these poems were intended to be read aloud. As soon as I did this the extraordinary music of the poetry became apparent, and the alliterations which had seemed so cumbersome on the page fulfilled their true function. Nothing was mindless. The climaxes and cadences fell just right, so as to hold the attention of an audience and add a new dimension to the poetry, which was beautiful as music alone. The sense of drama is electrifying.

Secondly, I had taken the approach of regarding each poem as if it were by a different writer. This used to be the accepted view. The first edition containing all five poems only appeared in 1995. However, if the religious poems known as 'Cleanness' - 'Patience' - 'Pearl' are assembled as a trilogy in that order they can be seen to share and develop ideas, and cumulatively they become one of the great works of world literature.

Thirdly, I had assumed that the religious nature of much of the poetry would imply that its thought processes must be stunted by the demands of the all-powerful church of the day. Far from it. From behind the doctrine emerges a truly original mind, full of deep insights, and unafraid to share them. Conveyed through his work as an artist, a jeweller to use his own analogy, is an understanding of myth and its power that is unequalled in writers to the present day.