Unit 4 · Uned 4: Video playlist

‘Y Rhigos a’r fan hufen iâ’ is a short story, written by Siôn Tomos Owen. This stori fer is set in Cwm Rhondda in south Wales where the author grew up.

It’s about childhood adventure, as the narrator looks back on his own experiences with excitement and humour, and the fun he had on his bike with his friends.

Ro’n ni’n cwrdd weithiau i reidio beics drwy’r strydoedd ac ar hyd yr afon yn Nhynewydd.

He warmly remembers the place of his childhood - his cynefin - and how it’s changed over time.

Heddiw mae melinau gwynt ar ben y Rhigos ac i lawr yng Nghwm Nedd ond pan o’n ni’n ifanc dim ond coedwigoedd oedd yna, mor bell ag y gallech chi weld.

He and his friends loved to dare each other to ride up the ramps which they made from old bits of wood and metal.

Ro’n i wedi mynd mor gyflym ag roedd fy meic BMX yn gallu mynd – ro’n i bron â hedfan…’

But then the story gets to the big adventure: the day the group of friends first cycled up the Rhigos mountain road. This was a special challenge:

Mae’r Rhigos yn ffordd hir fel neidr ac yn beryglus fel neidr hefyd.

It was a journey up a long mountain road that’s been compared to a snake. But the reward for the group of friends would be an ice cream from the van at the top.

Wrth gwrs, ro’n ni’n gallu prynu hufen iâ yn y siop ar stryd fawr Treherbert, ond ble oedd yr hwyl yn hynny?

Six of them set off for the top of the mountain, but they lose their friend Gary on the way. When they come back down, they find him still near the bottom:

Roedd e wedi stopio achos roedd reidio i ben y mynydd yn rhy anodd!

The friends tell Gary that some of the best fun was racing back down the mountain. But Gary says:

Mae Mam yn dweud ga i reidio i ben y Rhigos ond dw i ddim yn cael reidio i lawr achos mae’n rhy beryglus.

Gary’s failure is portrayed in a comic way by the main character:

Roedd e’n pwdu achos do’n ni ddim wedi cael hufen iâ iddo fe o’r fan!

The main character and Gary are different. Gary doesn’t make the effort and obeys his Mum. But the main character has loved the excitement of the mountain ride. He and his friends laugh unkindly at Gary when he sulks about not being able to join the group of friends on their adventure.

Fe wnaethon ni chwerthin yr holl ffordd adref.

Some of the main themes in the story are cynefin and ffrindiau.

You could discuss these by mentioning the details, events, characters or descriptions from the stori fer that link to the theme. You can then compare these experiences with your own.

For example, if you’re discussing “cynefin”, you could think first about the places and landscapes described in the story and then compare these with your own cynefin.

Here are a couple of questions which you might want to think about:

• Sut mae’r stori’n disgrifio’r ardal?
• Beth sy’n wahanol neu’n debyg i’r ardal lle rwyt ti’n byw?