because you were all wondering what I'm writing my dissertation on, here's a brief synopsis of my 'research context': When James Macpherson published his Fragments of Ancient Poetry in 1760, he went to great lengths to make the Fragments appear to be authentic remains of an ancient, heroic oral tradition. His reasons for this were largely political, and as such, influenced the content of the epics themselves. As an attempt to establish a particularly Scottish identity, the poems were quite effective. However, to do so required both a simplification and a manipulation of traditional mythology. Stripped of anagogical significance, the Ossian epics more or less represented an Enlightenment version of history, tradition, and mythic heritage. The stories themselves were changed by their very purpose and in turn changed the manner of representing myth in future narratives. Moreover, the emphasis on the Ossian epics as authentic tales from the past, as ‘fragments,’ served...
Yes, but did you use it in your dissertation?
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if you did and there is NO way I am reading it again just to see. Although I could do a search... hehe.
Is it done? Is it printed and bound??
Printed and bound and sitting on the desk of the department secretary! but these things deserve their own blog post...
ReplyDeleteI wanna be your roomie again. :(
ReplyDeleteconsidering your present confusions and difficulties, wonder, I am not surprised. :) but hang on. hold on. all will be well, and i will see you in december.
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