Einion Offeiriad facts for kids

Einion Offeiriad ("Einion the Priest") was an important Welsh poet and grammarian who lived in the 14th century. He is best known for writing the very first grammar book for Welsh poetry. He died in the year 1356.

Who Was Einion Offeiriad?

Einion Offeiriad lived in a part of Wales called Ceredigion. He worked as a chaplain, which is like a religious advisor, for a rich nobleman named Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd.

Einion even wrote a special poem praising Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd. This shows how poets often wrote for important people during that time.

Einion's Big Book: The Poetry Grammar

Einion's most famous work is his book on poetry rules, called 'llyfr cerddwriaeth'. This means "book of poetry craft." It was the very first book of its kind written in the Welsh language.

This book was a guide for how to write Welsh poetry. It helped poets understand the correct ways to create their verses.

What Was Inside the Grammar Book?

Einion's grammar book was partly based on older Latin grammar books. These were used a long time ago in the Middle Ages. He took ideas from famous grammarians like Donatus and Priscianus.

His book described 24 different types of Welsh poetry, known as the metres of the cerdd dafod. It taught poets how to compose these poems correctly. It also listed common mistakes to avoid.

The book also explained who should be praised in poetry. It said that poems praising God, Christ, and saints should come first. After that, poets could praise kings and noble people.

See Also

• An introduction to poetic metres can be found at Gwenllian's Poetry Primer