Flyting, The Time Honored Art of the Poetic Insult
Flyting is a time-honored tradition of the past; most notably from Albion and surrounding areas, according to historic documentation. However, it must be mentioned this tradition extends into the rest of the Hyperborean peoples and customs as well, though different words might be used to describe the same or similar customs. While the form may vary from region to region the intention is the same. A battle of both wit and word!
The battle of wit, to prove one’s cunning utilizing word as the weapon of choice to prove one’s intellect. The word aspect of the contest however is not dependent on a large or obscure vocabulary; and may actually serve as a hinderance, as those who witness the battle must understand what is being said. Instead, the word aspect of the battle is focused on the use of the words not their complexity. The parries and thrusts of the battle might be poetic, rhythmic, descriptive; or of course as always the crowd favorite, double meanings. These competitions might be limited to poetic or verse or they might take the form of the favorite to all of us low born the flyting or flinging of insults.
The rules of these games might vary region to region, as well as from time period to time period, depending on what was or is in fashion during any particular time in any particular place. As to who is the victor and who is the vanquished in these competitions the reasoning may vary, but the intention remains the same. As I am sure someone must have once surely said, “We shall duel to the wit!”.
The victor most often declared by the crowd by way of ooo's or awe's or possibly by concession of one participant declaring the other victor, while finding himself at a loss of words unable to admirably continue the fight.
Another important point to raise here is a flyting competition need not always be taken seriously but must be seriously taken; as they would often be spontaneously initiated at large gatherings such as feasts or celebrations, being boisterously declared with the first rhythmic utterance usually leveled in jest.
Now as has been stated these battles of wit and word might take several forms; in this entry to the archives as indicated by the title we shall focus on the flyting. In many ways this particular game of most serious jest still continues to this day and is often referred to as “Giving him shit” or “Ribbing” where two or more participants fling insults at each other in jest. Though it must be mentioned that the talent for such games has in general long fled our people and so we must take it upon ourselves to rediscover the talent which lies in flyting. And truly it is a talent as you will soon discover.
In addition, there is and only in the loosest sense a pointing system, however it is a pointing system that does not possess math or even actual points as the scoreboard lies only in the ears of the audience. Much like gallows humor, flyting is more about winning the crowd.
The rules possess a simple yet complex beauty to them. First and probably most importantly the jabs or insults must be true as there is no room for lying in a contest of flyting. Truth is after all both the keenest of weapons as well as the basis of comedy upon which true wit is built. A player might exaggerate or embellish even elaborate upon the truth, but each pass must at its core be true though the expression might be more or less than true.
The second rule is also very simple yet might become very difficult to uphold if you find yourself sparring with one seasoned in flyting. You must take turns. You cannot interrupt or cut your opponent off and above all you must remain calm. To interrupt or to lose your temper is to lose this contest of wit. So, the custom is to stand and grin at your opponent in the most nonchalant and arrogant way possible as if you have not a care in the world.
Rule three is also pretty simple in concept. The retort must be returned in short order taking no more than the space of two or three breaths to begin the retort. The longer the time for the response the less power it has and can indeed indicate a lack of wit. One must be able to think on their feet and instantly improvise. Thus the priority of making a quick and creative retort, not the speed of the speech but the length of time between ones end and the others beginning is of utmost importance.
The rest of the rules are not rules so much, more so they are guidelines for a good performance, and do not doubt flyting is a performance. To doubt or fail in the performance aspect of flyting will all but ensure a loss in such a contest. A good performance however will highlight and showcase your wit as well as your understanding of language. Not only the words themselves but their meanings and implications as well. This performance and delivery of flyting is best performed in a rhythmic cadence and if possible set to rhyme.
In addition, while it is an insult game the insults cannot be direct. For example simply calling the opponent names; as that too is an indication of the speakers lack of wit and imagination, while also showing the speaker to possess a poor grasp of language and its complexities. Body language, tone of voice and confidence, being bigger than life! All of these add to the performance of the flyting. Remember, performance is an important key to winning such a duel. You might have the best of the language skills, the quickest wit, the most cutting of remarks. Yet! If you fail to win the audience, you will surely lose the contest. You. Must. Win. The. Audience!
When it comes to flyting there is no such thing as a private contest, that is merely sparring or practicing. For true flitting there must be an abundance of witnesses who very well might end up participating or interfering in the contest. Which again is why performance is as important, if not more important than the words uttered. The speaker must be able to take control of the situation from every single person present. Both his opponent as well as those spectating. He must be able to command their attention. To guide their emotions through shock and awe and wonder at his magnificence!
Should the participants of this contest lose control of the audience it will surely at best be declared a draw. Should they lose control of themselves then they will surely be considered the vanquished. However, should all the proper conditions be met through skill and eloquence then surely, he shall be crowned the victor!
Many people when they first attempt flyting will resort to low brow, low wit insults due to their limited understanding of insults as well as a lack of imagination. This may very well result in them resorting to something along the lines of “You son of a bitch!” thinking themselves quite clever, however this is merely aggressive and lacks any poetry or eloquence. Should however they open with something more like, “You mewl like a wet pup whining after his mothers hind tit.”. This paints a verbal picture conjuring to the audiences’ mind an image of the opponent as a puppy that is not only scared and weak but also of him being the runt son of a bitch, which is indeed a female dog.
The unskilled might then retort to their opponent with “Yeah? Well, you are ugly and stupid!”. This once again is not flyting but is simply an insult the likes of which you might hear children leveling at each other. Do not be the child.
Instead, one skilled in flyting might respond with a chuckle to the first onslaught and with a grand flamboyant gesture pull the audience in while responding, “Truly a pup like myself could never compare to one so grand such as you as who possesses the face of a mule and very quite nearly the intelligence to match!”. In this example the flytter will have taken control from his opponent by acknowledging the previous insult, then by playing off his opponents insult he increases the difficulty level. This is accomplished by using the word mule in place of mewl, as well as building up the insult to insinuate the first speaker not only has an inflated ego but is in actuality mentally insufficient as well as ugly.
Then to remain within the vein of school yard insults, one might respond, “At least I don’t stink like you. You smell like shit.”. As one might notice by now there is a decided lack of flare and creativity to such a retort which has no place in such a competition of wit.
Instead, if he were to shake his head as a mule might; again, acknowledging the slight offered by the opponent he might even stamp his foot in mocking display at being called a mule, to then mockingly retort, “Truly and truly I cannot compare to the groveling mutt that follows so shortly upon my rear that he finds himself crawling through my muck”. Once again; this statement and the body language not only acknowledges the comment made by the previous turn but plays it up for laughs by once again recalling the previous statement of referring to his opponent as the offspring of a female dog. Then as that is not nearly enough, building upon it by further describing his opponent as being so small and insignificant as to be forced to crawl through the speaker’s dung. Thus implying that his opponent stinks while setting up a possible later insult, which of course will clearly state it in some manner befitting the next round.
In this way round after round they will continue as they attempt to win over the audience through comedy or simply dazzling them with the words spoken, as well as the cadence and general performance which should include more than a little audacity.
To insult in such a thoroughly descriptive manner without the need to resort to base insults that can be flung with little to no thought while delivering a physical performance on the fly. Well, that my people does indeed require skill and finesse, true wit and cunning, quickness of mind and a kind of brutality that might indeed sharpen the minds of everyone involved. In addition and possibly most importantly. It is fun! A game worthy of our people! The ruthless and brutal nature of such a game fits our own ruthless and brutal nature, which can be truly entertaining for both the participants as well as those who spectate.
I truly hope this inspires you to learn, practice and work to revive this most beloved custom, breathing life back into what was discouraged in our people long ago. To return this wonderful expression of our frivolity to our people.
So, "Go forth you pup of an un-sired dog with your maggot infested footfalls flinging dung with every word spoken as an ox soils the field speaking afoul as a fishing town in the height of summer, with the best of wishes as bestowed by the sod should you share and elevate this custom once again into prominence in drinking houses and at back yard festivities everywhere once again!"
