Irish Myth: Ulster Cycle

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1. Macha, daughter of Sainrith mac Imbaith, cursed the men of Ulster for nine generations. Why did she so curse the Ulstermen? She had been violated publicly by nine men, with no one brave enough to aid her. She had been forced to run a footrace when nine months pregnant. Her livestock stolen by nine anonymous Ulstermen. Nine times she had asked for food to save her starving babies, and nine times she was refused.

2. Several accounts are given of the birth of Setanta, who later came to be known by a more famous name. His mother was Deichtine, sister of Conchobar, King of Ulster. Some later accounts assign his paternity to Conchobar himself (implying a system of matrilineal descent in prehistoric Ireland?); others to a petty chieftain of Ulster, Deichtine's husband Sualtaim. But in most accounts Setanta's father is a god. Which god is said to have been Setanta's true father? The Dagda Lugh Ogma Mananan

3. Setanta was six years old when he received the name Cuchulainn. What did his new name mean? Battle Champion The Hound of Culann Horn of the Bull Colainn's Fist

4. Before she would marry the pre-pubescent Cuchulainn, Emer, daughter of Forgall imposed certain conditions. Which of the following was NOT a feat Cuchulainn would be required to perform before Emer would consent? Hunt and kill the evil beasts of Cerna. Slay three groups of nine men with a single stroke, leaving the fifth man of each nine unharmed. Slay one hundred men at each of several fords. Go without sleep for three consecutive seasons.

5. Forgall wasn't sure he wanted young Cuchulainn as a son-in-law, so he persuaded Conchobar to send the lad out for dangerous combat training, which Forgall hoped would lead to his death. One of Cuchulainn's teachers was the shadowy warrior-woman Scathac, with whose daughter (Uathac) Cuchulainn lost his virginity. Which of the following is NOT a feat Scathac taught Cuchulainn to perform? To befriend any horse, dog or bear. Leaping onto a lance in flight and standing on its point. The trussing of a warrior on the points of spears. To juggle nine apples.

6. Who was the mother of Cuchulainn's first son? Aife Uathac Scathac Emer

7. At a feast hosted by Bricriu Mac Carbad (of the venomous tongue), Cuchulainn is declared the Champion of Ulster. What does he do to be so honored? Lifts and drops Bricriu's house. Submits passively to a demonic giant who wants to cut off his head. Defeats Conall Cernach and Loeghaire the Triumphant in unarmed combat. Drinks more mead in a single draught than any other man can drink in a night.

8. Who brought about the fall of the Red Branch of Ulster? Generous and handsome Finn mac Cool. Rampageous and beautiful Derdriu ni Feidlimid. Treacherous and bloody Fergus mac Roich. Scandalous and wicked Ethnea ni Bhaloir.

9. The centerpiece of the Ulster Cycle is the Tain Bo Cuailgne, the Cattle-Raid of Cooley, sometimes called 'The Irish Iliad.' The questions posed so far have covered the events that serve as prefatory material to the Tain (or are related in 'flashbacks' therein). We now turn to the bare beginnings of the central episode. The Cattle-Raid takes place because of the existence of an incredibly valuable bull in Cooley, matched only by an equally valuable bull in Connaught. Which of the following is the (partial) explanation for the existence and location of the two fabulous bulls? The rampant libido of a particular god. A quarrel between two semi-divine swineherds. The cunning and foresight of a Druid's daughter. A wager between two Sidhe women.

10. The Cattle-Raid of Cooley, as its name implies, is all about an effort to steal the fabulous bull Dub (from its Ulsterman owner, Daire mac Fiachna). Which of the following is the (partial) explanation of why someone wanted to steal the bull? Lovers' spat between the King and Queen of Connaught. The Connaught bull unwilling to perform stud services. Desire to consolidate the two perfect bulls such that they would have a single owner. The tendency of the Ulstermen to boast when drunk.

11. How did it happen that the Connaught war host entered Ulster unopposed, without provoking outcry? Why wasn't Cuchulainn there to guard the marches? He was in a deep slumber induced by the Morrigan. He was consummating an adulterous tryst. He had been told the army would approach from the North. He had stopped to solve an ogham-riddle carved in an oak by Fergus.

12. On Conaille Plain Cuchulainn killed three hundred warriors of Connaught with his sling, over the course of three nights. Medb negotiated with him to put a stop to that, and they agreed that the forces of Connaught would send a single champion to do combat against Cuchulainn at the 'ford of battle' each day, and that the Connaught host would only march during the pendency of each combat. In exchange, Cuchulainn would set aside his staff-sling. How many days did it take Cuchulainn to slay Nathcrantail, the spear-throwing first champion of Connaught? 1 2 3 4

13. Cuchulainn was important to the Ulstermen because he alone among them was immune to the Curse of Macha (perhaps due to his divine parentage), which left them weak and helpless in their times of greatest need. However, after a desperate battle at the ford, in which the Morrigan's intervention left Cuchulainn sorely wounded, Cuchulainn's divine father healed him be sending him into a three-day sleep. What martial asset did the forces of Ulster call upon to defend them while Cuchulainn slept? A storm-calling druid. A small army of 150 pre-adolescent boys. All of the wolves of Erin. Cuchulainn's two war-horses.

14. Medb sent many champions to slay Cuchulainn at the ford, and none succeeded. Which of the following gave Cuchulainn far and away his hardest fight at the ford of battle? Larine, true brother to his foster-brother Lugaid His own teacher, Scathac His own foster-brother Ferdiad A force of three Druids and three Druidesses

15. While Cuchulainn recuperated from wounds inflicted in the flight alluded to in the preceding question, his mortal (or foster) father Sualtaim met his end. How did Sualtaim die? Slain by his own king, Conchobar. Cut off his own head by falling on his shield-edge. Brought down by a druid's curse. Poisoned by a serving woman employed by Medb.

16. What was the outcome of the final battle between the forces of Ulster and the forces of Connaught at the Plain of Garech? Men of Connaught routed, and their leaders killed Men of Connaught victorious, but their leaders killed Both armies destroyed, and only Cuchulainn left alive Men of Connaught routed, but their leaders spared

17. What was the ultimate fate of the two fabulous bulls (Dub of Cuailgne and Finnbennach of Connaught) after all the dust had settled? Daire retains Dub and is given Finnbennach too Dub slays Finnbennach, then dies himself Finnbennach slays Dub, and is given to Daire in compensation Daire retains Dub and Cuchulainn is given Finnbennach

18. Cuchulainn had other adventures as well, after winning undying glory for defending Ulster single-handed against the marauders of Connaught. In one episode, the hero spends a month in the Irish 'otherworld,' Tir na Nog. Which of the following is the (partial) explanation for Cuchulainn's journey into that fey realm? Intrigued by an eerie piping emanating from a crack in a menhir (standing stone). His desire to tryst with the wife of Mananan mac Lir. His curiosity as to the fate that befell his teacher. Drawn thither by hypnotic, elusive lights in the fog.

19. Which of the following did NOT figure in the death of Cuchulainn? Betrayal of someone dear and trusted. Battle against illusory foes. Eating the flesh of an otter. Seeing an old woman washing clothes.

20. A final question to prove that the Ulster Cycle isn't ALL about Cuchulainn; what body part was used to kill King Conchobar? The severed leg of Conaire Mor, King of Connaught The jaw-bone of Cuchulainn The excised brain of Mesgedra, King of Leinster The severed arm of Lewy, King of Munster