The Legend of the Banshee: What is a Banshee? A Banshee is a female spirit(=esprit) in Ireland who will wail (=gémir) outside a home to warn of an imminent death of a family member. Her wails (=gémissements) are so high-pitched (=haut perchés, aigus) and terrifying that nobody will dare to attempt to see her. Banshee (bean-sidhe in Gaelic) means ‘Faerie woman’ or ‘woman of the Faerie mound. Many legends exist about them and how evil is they are supposed to be. The legend of the Irish Banshee The first legend is that she is the ghost of a young woman who was brutally killed and died so horribly that her spirit is left to wander (=errer) the world. She watches over a family and warns (to warn=prévenir, avertir) them when a violent death is imminent. The wailing Banshee The Banshee attaches herself to (=s’attache à) families usually with an O or a Mc in the surname such as O’Brien or McNeill. She announces a death in the family. The Banshee does not ‘bring’ death but warns that death is near and this gives the family a chance to prepare. It is not necessarily a violent death. She is considered as an escort to make sure that the loved one passes safely to the other side. What does a banshee look like? This particular type of Banshee appears as a woman, young or old, in rags with dirty grey hair, long fingernails and sharp-pointed rotten teeth. Her eyes are blood-red and filled with so much hatred(=haine) and sorrow(=chagrin) that to look into them will cause instant death. The Banshee’s mouth is permanently open as she emits a long and painful scream to torture the souls(=âmes) of the living(=les vivants).
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