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...
Sweet! You're reading it too! Well, I have 42 more pages in "Israel, My Beloved" and then I can North and South, which could very well be in a few hours. Yay.
ReplyDeleteI'm finishing it even as I type! It's so very good. But if you're about to start reading it now, I'd better be quick about ordering you something new for when you're finished. Hm...
ReplyDeleteSomething long? Maybe good for my approaching road trip/moving trip? Did I tell you that I am moving again?
ReplyDeletebut i thought you had secured a live-in position? involving seclusion and children?
ReplyDelete