Whenever we see the word "bard", it is William Shakespeare who comes to mind. It became his "Honorary Title". At its simplest, it means poet. But there is nothing simple about this person having this title.
The full title he was known by was "The Bard of Avon". Another title was "The Sweet Swan of Avon." Ben Jonson, his contemporary, gave him this title. He is known as England's "National Poet". And then known as "The Poet". That is meant to denote him as the preeminent writer of his era.
And there's a derogatory title of "An Upstart Crow" which jealous playwright Robert Greene gave him.
Not related at all is the expression called "Bard Behaviour" - it was the name of the study of emotional responses by physiologist Philip Bard in1928.
The tradition of bards goes back to ancient times, and were documented in Greece and Rome. But the use as a title seems to have settled on Shakespeare. Maybe because the designation lived on in medieval Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Brittany where the tradition of a bard giving praise to and satirizing rulers was essential to a poet's work.
Critics studied his work over time and in the post-17th century there was a cultural shift that elevated him from a popular Elizabethan playwright to a global literary icon. Then the romantic era critics and writers elevated him to "prophetic " status. The term bardolatry - excessive admiration of Shakespeare - came in fashion then. I find that a humorous expression - it is in good company with idolatry and lordolatry. And then many words without the "d" follow along with "olatry" as an ending - zoolatry, geolatry, monolatry, autolatry. That last one is worship of oneself. That word makes me think that there might be a direct line into autocracy.
But enough of that - it leads into politics, doesn't it? Today we get to celebrate William Shakespeare, considered the greatest poet of all time. How does that rank with Homer who is referred to as the "king of all poets"? They are considered equal and different. Sounds like a perfect compromise.
Here's the gazebo in the Shakespeare Garden in Stratford, ON.
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