Difference between revisions of "Ossian"
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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. | ||
− | The seminar might focus on | + | The seminar might focus on |
− | *textual history, | + | *the textual history, |
*the complex European reception history, | *the complex European reception history, | ||
*the influence on real discoveries such as Beowulf | *the influence on real discoveries such as Beowulf | ||
− | *the question why scientists like Johann Gottfried Herder could read this book as authentic | + | *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 | ||
[[Category:Seminar Idea|Ossian]] | [[Category:Seminar Idea|Ossian]] |
Revision as of 15:19, 19 April 2007
I read int 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