John Jones (Jac Glan-y-gors)
Encyclopedia
John Jones better known by his bardic name
Jac Glan-y-gors, was a Welsh language
satirical poet and radical pamphleteer, born in Cerrigydrudion
, Denbighshire
, north Wales
.
Jac Glan-y-gors was an accomplished and natural prose writer although his output was small. His best known prose works are Seren Tan Gwmmwl and Toriad y Dydd, political tracts addressed to the Welsh people which reflect the radical ideals of Tom Payne
and the author's Welsh patriotism
.
His poetical output is more considerable and includes the poem entitled Cerdd Dic Siôn Dafydd (Dic Siôn Dafydd - Richard son of John son of David - is the name given to a Welshman who despises his language and who imitates the English. Dic Siôn Dafydd left Wales and became a draper in London; his pomposity led him to claim that he had forgotten how to speak Welsh, and on a visit to his mother in Wales who spoke only Welsh he insisted on speaking English). The poem lampoons those of the upwardly-mobile Welsh in London who turned their backs on their country and language in order to inveigle themselves to the English. It became one of the most familiar Welsh poems of the 19th century and is still appreciated today. The eponymous 'Dic Siôn Dafydd' has entered the Welsh language as a derogative term for any Welsh person of a similar nature, rather like "Uncle Tom
" in relation to Afro-Americans.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
Jac Glan-y-gors, was a Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
satirical poet and radical pamphleteer, born in Cerrigydrudion
Cerrigydrudion
Cerrigydrudion is a village and its surrounding parish in Conwy County Borough, north Wales. Previously it was part of the historic county of Denbighshire and then Clwyd. The village formerly lay on the A5, but a short by-pass now takes the road along the south-western edge of the village...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Jac Glan-y-gors was an accomplished and natural prose writer although his output was small. His best known prose works are Seren Tan Gwmmwl and Toriad y Dydd, political tracts addressed to the Welsh people which reflect the radical ideals of Tom Payne
Tom Payne
Tom Payne may refer to:*Tom Payne , American basketball player*Tom Payne , English actor*Tom Payne , Brazilian film director*Tom Payne , Australian television newsreader...
and the author's Welsh patriotism
Welsh nationalism
Welsh nationalism emphasises the distinctiveness of Welsh language, culture, and history, and calls for more self-determination for Wales, which may include more Devolved powers for the Welsh Assembly or full independence from the United Kingdom.-Conquest:...
.
His poetical output is more considerable and includes the poem entitled Cerdd Dic Siôn Dafydd (Dic Siôn Dafydd - Richard son of John son of David - is the name given to a Welshman who despises his language and who imitates the English. Dic Siôn Dafydd left Wales and became a draper in London; his pomposity led him to claim that he had forgotten how to speak Welsh, and on a visit to his mother in Wales who spoke only Welsh he insisted on speaking English). The poem lampoons those of the upwardly-mobile Welsh in London who turned their backs on their country and language in order to inveigle themselves to the English. It became one of the most familiar Welsh poems of the 19th century and is still appreciated today. The eponymous 'Dic Siôn Dafydd' has entered the Welsh language as a derogative term for any Welsh person of a similar nature, rather like "Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom is a derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to perceived authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people....
" in relation to Afro-Americans.