Irish Fairy Tales · Chapter
XVI explained
Mongan, disguised as Tibraidè, meets the King of Leinster and is sent ahead to the fortress where Duv Laca is staying.
What happens
Mongan, disguised as Tibraidè, meets the King of Leinster and is sent ahead to the fortress where Duv Laca is staying. He dismisses the attendants and embraces Duv Laca, while his servant mac an Dáv similarly embraces the attendant, claiming to be her husband.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because Duv Laca’s declaration of love and her simultaneous imposition of a year-l…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Transformation and Identity
Mongan assumes the identity of Tibraidè, and mac an Dáv claims to be the attendant's husband, highlighting themes of disguise and mistaken identity.
- Love and Sacrifice
Mongan's embrace of Duv Laca and mac an Dáv's claim to the attendant suggest romantic or marital bonds.
Characters to notice
- Mongan
Disguised as Tibraidè, he meets the King of Leinster and later embraces Duv Laca.
- Mac an Dáv
Mongan's servant who accompanies him and embraces the attendant, claiming to be her husband.
- Duv Laca
The queen, formerly the King of Ulster's wife, whom Mongan embraces.
- Tibraidè
Mongan is mistaken for Tibraidè by the King of Leinster.
- Dermod
The King of Leinster who greets Mongan as Tibraidè and sends him ahead.
Key passages
““Good my soul, Tibraidè!” cried the King of Leinster, and he gave Mongan a kiss. Mongan kissed him back again.”
The King of Leinster greeted Mongan warmly, calling him Tibraidè and kissing him, which Mongan returned.
Mongan is mistaken for Tibraidè by the king.
“Then Mongan opened his eyes and he saw Duv Laca, and he made a great bound to her and took her in his arms, and mac an Dáv made a savage and vicious and terrible jump at the attendant, and took her in his arms, and bit her ear and kissed her neck and wept down into her back.”
Mongan leaped to embrace Duv Laca, while mac an Dáv aggressively embraced the attendant, biting her ear and kissing her neck.
Both Mongan and mac an Dáv physically claim the women.
