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Dr Siwan Rosser

Overview

Dr Siwan Rosser Position: Lecturer Email: RosserSM@cardiff.ac.uk
 Telephone: +44(0)29 208 74843
Fax: +44(0)29 208 74604
Extension: 74843
Location: John Percival Building

Research Interests

My main area of research focuses on Welsh popular literature, best-selling texts with mass appeal that have been largely ignored by traditional literary criticism in Wales, despite, or even because of their popularity. My first major volume Y Ferch ym Myd y Faled: Delweddau o'r Ferch ym Maledi'r Ddeunawfed Ganrif explored the representation of women in eighteenth-century ballads.
Book description

Other publications on the ballad genre include studies on Welsh women balladmongers, the broadside ballads of Elis y Cowper (Ellis Roberts) and the influence of English language and culture on Welsh ballads.

In 2007, my edition of the poetry of Jonathan Hughes, Llangollen (1721-1805) was published. As well as being the first in-depth study of this country poet’s work, this volume brings to light many issues relating to the function of popular poetry in eighteenth-century Wales.

I am also developing research into Welsh children’s literature and am exploring the construction of the child and femininity, and issues relating to nationhood and Welsh identity in children’s fiction.

Teaching Profile

BA in Welsh: Year One First Language
  • CY1743 Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg
BA in Welsh: Year Two and Final Year
  • CY2349 I Fyd y Faled
  • CY3633 Llenyddiaeth Plant 1500-1900
  • CY2318 Dadeni a Diwygiad
  • CY2345 Cyflwyniad i Astudiaethau Gwerin
  • CY3617 Merched a Llên yn y Cyfnod Modern
  • CY2126 Blas ar Ymchwil
  • CY2255 Cymraeg Cyfoes
Director of Postgraduate Research Students
  • For details regarding our research degrees click here

Invited Lectures

 
20 April 2009

Poetry and Childhood Conference, The British Library: 'Rhyming the Nation: Welsh Poetry for Children'

4 August 2004

Amy Parry-Williams Memorial Lecture, Welsh Folk-Song Society: 'Baledi'r Ffin' (English influences on 18th-century Welsh ballads)

10 September 2005

Friends of the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth: 'Y Ferch ym Myd y Faled' (The representation of women in ballads)

6 August 2007

T. H. Parry-Williams Memorial Lecture, The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion: ‘Ynom mae y Clawdd? Cresoi Ffiniau Llenyddol’ (Poetry of the Wales-England border)

27 November 2007

Annual Conference of the Cardiff Centre for Welsh American Studies: ‘‘Albert Maywood; neu Fywyd ymysg yr Indiaid’: Brodorion America, Thomas Levi a Dechreuadau’r Stori Antur i Blant’ (The beginnings of Welsh children’s literature)

Publications

 

Research

I am currently tracing the development of Welsh children's literature from the beginning of the 19th century onwards. Main themes include the didactic content of the religious magazines for Victorian children and the endeavours of late 19th-century nationalists to use literature to inspire patriotic loyalty amongst young readers. I am also researching the development of literary genres in the 20th century such as the adventure story and teenage fiction.

Postgraduate Students

Current Research Students

Awen Schiavone: 'Deuoliaeth yn y stori antur Gymraeg i blant (1900-1999)' (joint supervisor with Dr Siwan Rosser)

Lisa Sheppard: MPhil in Creative and Critical Writing