Difference between revisions of "Ossian"
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− | I read | + | I read into Ossian and its surrounding materials for the Basismodul-Lecture last winter and was greatly surprised. The title offers an ancient epic poem - and does not keep its promise. Instead we get a dissertation about the qualities of this poem and what is called a translation of the original Scottish work. |
The text was everything but that translation - it was much rather a fake, the original epic was never found. It became, nonetheless, influential: as an early work of original northern poetry (before such works came to be discovered). ''Ossian'' inspired imitations, versifications and translations, and the preface had done a good job to kindle this fire. | The text was everything but that translation - it was much rather a fake, the original epic was never found. It became, nonetheless, influential: as an early work of original northern poetry (before such works came to be discovered). ''Ossian'' inspired imitations, versifications and translations, and the preface had done a good job to kindle this fire. |
Latest revision as of 15:29, 15 August 2007
I read into Ossian and its surrounding materials for the Basismodul-Lecture last winter and was greatly surprised. The title offers an ancient epic poem - and does not keep its promise. Instead we get a dissertation about the qualities of this poem and what is called a translation of the original Scottish work.
The text was everything but that translation - it was much rather a fake, the original epic was never found. It became, nonetheless, influential: as an early work of original northern poetry (before such works came to be discovered). Ossian inspired imitations, versifications and translations, and the preface had done a good job to kindle this fire.
The seminar might focus on
- the textual history,
- the complex European reception history,
- the influence on real discoveries such as Beowulf
- the question why scientists like Johann Gottfried Herder could read this book as authentic,
- the parallel between the Ossian discovery and the fashions of 20th century fantasy fiction